1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
3 @c 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
4 @c 2010, 2011 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
7 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
8 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
26 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
27 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
31 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
32 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
35 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
38 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
40 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
41 @c manuals to an info tree.
42 @dircategory Software development
44 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
48 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
49 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
50 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
52 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
54 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
55 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
56 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
57 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
59 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
60 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
61 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
65 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
67 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
68 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
69 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
70 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
72 Version @value{GDBVN}.
78 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
79 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
81 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
82 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
84 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
86 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
90 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
91 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
92 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
96 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
97 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
98 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
99 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
100 ISBN 1-882114-77-9 @*
104 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
105 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
106 software in general. We will miss him.
111 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
113 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
115 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
117 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
118 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
119 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
121 Version @value{GDBVN}.
123 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
125 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
126 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
127 software in general. We will miss him.
130 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
131 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
133 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
134 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
135 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
136 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
137 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
138 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
139 * Stack:: Examining the stack
140 * Source:: Examining source files
141 * Data:: Examining data
142 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
143 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
144 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
145 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
147 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
149 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
150 * Altering:: Altering execution
151 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
152 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
153 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
154 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
155 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
156 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
157 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
158 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
159 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
160 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
161 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
162 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
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 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
175 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
176 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
177 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
178 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
179 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
181 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
183 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
184 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
185 how you can copy and share GDB
186 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
195 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
197 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
198 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
199 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
201 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
202 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
206 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
209 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
212 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
215 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
216 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
219 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
220 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
221 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
223 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
227 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
228 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
230 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
231 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
234 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
235 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
236 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
240 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
241 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
244 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
245 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
248 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
249 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
253 @unnumberedsec Free Software
255 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
256 General Public License
257 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
258 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
259 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
260 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
261 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
262 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
264 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
265 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
268 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
270 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
271 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
272 include with the free software. Many of our most important
273 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
274 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
275 when an important free software package does not come with a free
276 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
279 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
280 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
281 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
282 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
283 them from the free software world.
285 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
286 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
287 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
288 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
289 contract to make it non-free.
291 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
292 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
293 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
294 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
295 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
296 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
297 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
299 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
300 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
301 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
302 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
304 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
305 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
306 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
307 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
308 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
309 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
312 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
313 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
314 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
315 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
316 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
317 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
318 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
319 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
322 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
323 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
324 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
325 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
326 manual to replace it.
328 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
329 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
330 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
331 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
332 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
333 the free software community.
335 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
336 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
337 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
338 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
339 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
340 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
341 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
342 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
343 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
345 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
346 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
347 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
348 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
349 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
350 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
351 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
352 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
354 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
355 published by other publishers, at
356 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
359 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
361 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
362 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
363 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
364 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
365 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
366 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
367 blow-by-blow account.
369 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
372 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
373 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
374 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
377 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
378 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
380 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
381 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
382 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
383 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
384 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
385 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
386 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
387 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
388 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
390 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
391 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
393 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
394 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
395 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
396 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
397 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
399 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
400 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
401 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
403 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
404 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
406 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
408 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
409 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
411 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
412 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
413 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
414 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
415 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
416 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
417 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
418 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
419 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
420 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
421 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
422 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
423 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
424 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
425 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
426 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
428 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
430 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
433 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
434 about several machine instruction sets.
436 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
437 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
438 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
439 and RDI targets, respectively.
441 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
442 command-line editing and command history.
444 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
445 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
447 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
448 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
451 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
452 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
454 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
456 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
459 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
461 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
463 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
465 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
468 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
470 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
472 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
473 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
475 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
476 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
477 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
478 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
479 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
480 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
481 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
483 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
484 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
486 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
487 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
488 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
489 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
490 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
491 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
492 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
493 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
494 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
495 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
496 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
497 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
498 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
499 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
500 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
502 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
503 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
505 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
508 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
509 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
510 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
511 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
512 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
513 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
515 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
516 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
517 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
518 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
519 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
520 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
521 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
522 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
523 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
524 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
525 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
528 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
529 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
530 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
531 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
533 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
534 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
537 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
539 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
540 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
541 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
544 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
545 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
548 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
549 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
551 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
552 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
553 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
554 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
555 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
556 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
557 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
558 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
559 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
568 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
572 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
574 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
577 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
581 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
584 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
585 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
586 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
587 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
588 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
590 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
593 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
598 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
599 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
600 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
601 that examples fit in this manual.
604 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
608 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
609 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
610 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
611 @code{break} command.
614 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
615 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
619 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
620 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
621 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
624 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
625 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
633 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
634 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
635 context where it stops.
638 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
640 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
642 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
646 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
647 the next line of the current function.
651 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
656 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
657 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
658 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
659 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
663 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
665 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
669 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
670 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
671 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
672 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
673 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
674 stack frame for each active subroutine.
677 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
678 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
680 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
682 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
683 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
685 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
686 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
690 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
691 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
692 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
696 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
698 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
699 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
701 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
704 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
708 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
709 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
710 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
711 (@code{print}) to see their values.
714 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
715 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
716 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
717 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
721 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
722 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
723 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
729 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
731 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
734 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
735 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
742 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
743 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
747 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
750 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
752 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
757 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
758 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
759 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
760 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
761 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
765 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
767 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
772 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
773 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
774 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
775 example that caused trouble initially:
781 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
788 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
789 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
790 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
794 Program exited normally.
798 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
799 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
800 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
803 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
807 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
809 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
813 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
815 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
819 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
820 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
821 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
822 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
826 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
828 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
829 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
831 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
832 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
834 The command-line options described here are designed
835 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
836 options may effectively be unavailable.
838 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
839 specifying an executable program:
842 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
846 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
850 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
853 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
854 to debug a running process:
857 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
861 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
862 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
864 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
865 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
866 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
867 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
868 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
870 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
871 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
874 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
876 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
877 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
879 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
880 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
887 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
888 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
898 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
899 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
901 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
902 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
903 @samp{-x} option is used.
907 * File Options:: Choosing files
908 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
909 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
913 @subsection Choosing Files
915 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
916 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
917 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
918 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
919 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
920 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
921 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
922 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
923 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
924 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
925 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
926 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
927 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
929 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
930 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
931 argument and ignore it.
933 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
934 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
935 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
936 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
937 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
939 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
940 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
944 @item -symbols @var{file}
946 @cindex @code{--symbols}
948 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
950 @item -exec @var{file}
952 @cindex @code{--exec}
954 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
955 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
959 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
962 @item -core @var{file}
964 @cindex @code{--core}
966 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
968 @item -pid @var{number}
969 @itemx -p @var{number}
972 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
974 @item -command @var{file}
976 @cindex @code{--command}
978 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
979 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
980 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
982 @item -eval-command @var{command}
983 @itemx -ex @var{command}
984 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
986 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
988 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
989 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
992 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
993 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
996 @item -directory @var{directory}
997 @itemx -d @var{directory}
998 @cindex @code{--directory}
1000 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1004 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1006 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1007 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1008 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1013 @subsection Choosing Modes
1015 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1016 batch mode or quiet mode.
1023 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1024 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1025 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1031 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1032 @cindex @code{--silent}
1034 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1035 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1038 @cindex @code{--batch}
1039 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1040 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1041 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1042 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1043 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1044 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1045 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1047 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1048 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1049 make this more useful, the message
1052 Program exited normally.
1056 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1057 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1061 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1062 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1063 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1064 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1065 for an interactive session.
1067 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1068 messages, for example.
1070 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1071 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1073 @item -return-child-result
1074 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1075 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1076 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1080 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1081 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1082 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1084 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1086 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1087 the exit code will be -1.
1090 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1091 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1096 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1098 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1099 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1100 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1104 @cindex @code{--windows}
1106 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1109 @item -cd @var{directory}
1111 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1112 instead of the current directory.
1114 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1115 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1116 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1117 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1118 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1122 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1124 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1125 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1126 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1127 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1128 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1129 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1130 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1131 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1135 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1136 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1137 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1138 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1141 @item -annotate @var{level}
1142 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1143 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1144 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1145 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1146 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1147 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1148 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1149 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1150 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1152 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1156 @cindex @code{--args}
1157 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1158 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1159 This option stops option processing.
1161 @item -baud @var{bps}
1163 @cindex @code{--baud}
1165 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1166 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1168 @item -l @var{timeout}
1170 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1171 for remote debugging.
1173 @item -tty @var{device}
1174 @itemx -t @var{device}
1175 @cindex @code{--tty}
1177 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1178 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1180 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1182 @cindex @code{--tui}
1183 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1184 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1185 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1186 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1187 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1188 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1189 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1192 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1193 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1194 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1195 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1198 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1199 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1200 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1201 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1202 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1203 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1205 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1206 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1207 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1208 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1209 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1210 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1213 @cindex @code{--write}
1214 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1215 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1219 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1220 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1221 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1224 @cindex @code{--version}
1225 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1226 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1231 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1232 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1234 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1238 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1239 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1243 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1244 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1245 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1249 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1250 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1251 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1255 Processes command line options and operands.
1258 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1259 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1260 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1261 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1262 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1266 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1267 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1268 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1269 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1271 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1272 you must do something like the following:
1275 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" -ex "file myprogram"
1278 The following does not work because the auto-loading is turned off too late:
1281 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" myprogram
1285 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1286 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1289 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1290 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1291 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1294 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1295 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1296 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1297 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1298 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1299 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1301 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1302 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1304 @cindex init file name
1305 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1306 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1307 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1308 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1309 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1310 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1311 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1312 the file to the standard name.
1316 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1317 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1318 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1321 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1322 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1323 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1325 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1326 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1327 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1328 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1333 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1334 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1335 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1336 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1337 until a time when it is safe.
1339 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1340 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1341 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1343 @node Shell Commands
1344 @section Shell Commands
1346 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1347 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1348 just use the @code{shell} command.
1352 @cindex shell escape
1353 @item shell @var{command string}
1354 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1355 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1356 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1357 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1360 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1361 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1366 @cindex calling make
1367 @item make @var{make-args}
1368 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1369 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1372 @node Logging Output
1373 @section Logging Output
1374 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1375 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1377 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1378 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1382 @item set logging on
1384 @item set logging off
1386 @cindex logging file name
1387 @item set logging file @var{file}
1388 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1389 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1390 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1391 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1392 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1393 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1394 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1395 @kindex show logging
1397 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1401 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1403 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1404 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1405 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1406 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1407 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1410 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1411 * Completion:: Command completion
1412 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1415 @node Command Syntax
1416 @section Command Syntax
1418 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1419 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1420 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1421 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1422 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1423 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1425 @cindex abbreviation
1426 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1427 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1428 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1429 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1430 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1431 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1432 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1434 @cindex repeating commands
1435 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1436 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1437 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1438 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1439 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1440 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1441 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1443 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1444 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1445 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1447 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1448 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1449 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1450 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1451 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1453 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1455 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1456 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1457 Files,,Command Files}).
1459 @cindex repeating command sequences
1460 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1461 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1462 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1463 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1467 @section Command Completion
1470 @cindex word completion
1471 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1472 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1473 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1474 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1476 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1477 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1478 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1479 enter it). For example, if you type
1481 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1482 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1483 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1484 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1486 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1490 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1491 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1494 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1498 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1499 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1500 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1501 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1502 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1503 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1505 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1506 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1507 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1508 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1509 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1510 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1511 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1512 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1516 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1517 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1518 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1519 make_abs_section make_function_type
1520 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1521 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1522 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1523 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1527 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1528 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1531 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1532 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1533 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1534 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1535 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1537 @cindex quotes in commands
1538 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1539 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1540 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1541 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1542 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1543 @value{GDBN} commands.
1545 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1546 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1547 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1548 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1549 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1550 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1551 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1552 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1553 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1554 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1555 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1558 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1559 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1560 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1563 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1564 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1565 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1569 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1570 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1571 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1575 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1576 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1577 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1579 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1580 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1581 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1582 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1584 @cindex completion of structure field names
1585 @cindex structure field name completion
1586 @cindex completion of union field names
1587 @cindex union field name completion
1588 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1589 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1590 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1591 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1592 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1596 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1597 magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1598 to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1602 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1603 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1610 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1611 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1612 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1613 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1614 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1615 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1616 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1617 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1624 @section Getting Help
1625 @cindex online documentation
1628 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1629 using the command @code{help}.
1632 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1635 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1636 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1640 List of classes of commands:
1642 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1643 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1644 data -- Examining data
1645 files -- Specifying and examining files
1646 internals -- Maintenance commands
1647 obscure -- Obscure features
1648 running -- Running the program
1649 stack -- Examining the stack
1650 status -- Status inquiries
1651 support -- Support facilities
1652 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1653 stopping the program
1654 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1656 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1657 commands in that class.
1658 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1660 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1663 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1665 @item help @var{class}
1666 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1667 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1668 help display for the class @code{status}:
1671 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1676 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1677 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1678 info -- Generic command for showing things
1679 about the program being debugged
1680 show -- Generic command for showing things
1683 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1685 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1689 @item help @var{command}
1690 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1691 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1694 @item apropos @var{args}
1695 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1696 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1697 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1708 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1709 multiple times in one run
1710 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1711 multiple times in one run
1716 @item complete @var{args}
1717 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1718 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1719 command you want completed. For example:
1725 @noindent results in:
1736 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1739 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1740 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1741 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1742 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1743 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1744 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1749 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1751 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1752 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1753 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1754 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1755 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1756 @w{@code{help info}}.
1760 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1761 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1762 @code{set prompt $}.
1766 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1767 @value{GDBN} itself.
1768 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1769 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1770 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1771 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1774 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1775 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1776 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1777 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1778 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1779 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1783 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1784 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1787 @kindex show version
1788 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1790 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1791 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1792 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1793 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1794 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1795 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1796 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1797 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1800 @kindex show copying
1801 @kindex info copying
1802 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1805 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1807 @kindex show warranty
1808 @kindex info warranty
1810 @itemx info warranty
1811 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1812 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1817 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1819 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1820 debugging information when you compile it.
1822 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1823 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1824 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1825 kill a child process.
1828 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1829 * Starting:: Starting your program
1830 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1831 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1833 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1834 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1835 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1836 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1838 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1839 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1840 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1841 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1845 @section Compiling for Debugging
1847 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1848 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1849 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1850 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1851 and addresses in the executable code.
1853 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1856 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1857 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1858 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1859 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1860 executables containing debugging information.
1862 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1863 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1864 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1865 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1866 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1868 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1869 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1870 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1872 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1873 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1874 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1875 the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1876 Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1877 provides macro information if you specify the options
1878 @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1879 debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1880 ``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1881 ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1886 @section Starting your Program
1892 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1895 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1896 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1897 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1898 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1899 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1903 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1904 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1905 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1906 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1907 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1908 message like this one:
1911 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1912 Try "help target" or "continue".
1916 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1917 first (@pxref{load}).
1919 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1920 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1921 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1922 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1923 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1924 divided into four categories:
1927 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1928 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1929 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1930 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1931 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1933 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1934 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1935 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1937 @item The @emph{environment.}
1938 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1939 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1940 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1941 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1943 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1944 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1945 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1946 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1948 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1949 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1950 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1951 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1952 set a different device for your program.
1953 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1956 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1957 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1958 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1962 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1963 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1964 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1965 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1966 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1968 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1969 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1970 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1971 your current breakpoints.
1976 @cindex run to main procedure
1977 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1978 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1979 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1980 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1981 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1982 procedure, depending on the language used.
1984 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1985 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1986 the @samp{run} command.
1988 @cindex elaboration phase
1989 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1990 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1991 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1992 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1993 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1994 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1995 will remain to halt execution.
1997 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1998 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1999 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2000 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2001 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2003 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2004 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2005 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2006 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2007 elaboration code before running your program.
2009 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2010 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2011 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2012 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2013 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2014 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2015 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2016 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2017 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2018 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2019 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2021 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2022 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2023 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2024 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2026 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2027 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2031 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2035 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2036 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2038 @kindex set disable-randomization
2039 @item set disable-randomization
2040 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2041 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2042 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2043 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2044 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2046 This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2050 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2053 @item set disable-randomization off
2054 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2055 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2056 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2057 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2058 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2059 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2061 The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2062 It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2063 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2064 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2065 a code at its expected addresses.
2067 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2068 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2069 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2070 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2071 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2072 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2073 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2074 a randomly chosen address.
2076 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2077 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2078 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2079 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2080 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2082 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2083 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2085 @item show disable-randomization
2086 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2087 the virtual address space of the started program.
2092 @section Your Program's Arguments
2094 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2095 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2097 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2098 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2099 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2100 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2101 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2103 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2104 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2105 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2106 the program, not by the shell.
2108 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2109 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2114 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2115 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2116 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2117 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2118 it again without arguments.
2122 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2126 @section Your Program's Environment
2128 @cindex environment (of your program)
2129 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2130 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2131 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2132 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2133 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2134 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2135 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2139 @item path @var{directory}
2140 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2141 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2142 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2143 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2144 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2145 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2146 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2148 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2149 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2150 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2151 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2152 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2153 @var{directory} to the search path.
2154 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2155 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2159 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2160 environment variable).
2162 @kindex show environment
2163 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2164 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2165 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2166 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2167 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2169 @kindex set environment
2170 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2171 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2172 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2173 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2174 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2175 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2177 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2178 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2180 For example, this command:
2187 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2188 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2189 are not actually required.)
2191 @kindex unset environment
2192 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2193 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2194 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2195 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2196 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2199 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2201 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2202 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2203 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2204 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2205 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2206 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2209 @node Working Directory
2210 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2212 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2213 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2214 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2215 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2216 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2217 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2219 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2220 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2225 @cindex change working directory
2226 @item cd @var{directory}
2227 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2231 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2234 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2235 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2236 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2237 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2238 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2239 current working directory of the debuggee.
2242 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2247 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2248 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2249 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2250 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2251 running your program.
2254 @kindex info terminal
2256 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2260 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2261 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2268 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2271 @cindex controlling terminal
2272 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2273 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2274 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2275 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2276 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2283 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2284 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2285 that as their controlling terminal.
2287 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2288 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2291 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2292 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2293 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2294 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2296 @cindex inferior tty
2297 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2298 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2299 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2303 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2304 @kindex set inferior-tty
2305 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2307 @item show inferior-tty
2308 @kindex show inferior-tty
2309 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2313 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2318 @item attach @var{process-id}
2319 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2320 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2321 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2322 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2323 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2325 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2326 executing the command.
2329 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2330 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2331 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2332 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2334 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2335 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2336 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2337 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2338 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2341 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2342 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2343 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2344 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2345 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2346 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2347 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2352 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2353 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2354 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2355 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2356 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2357 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2358 executing the command.
2361 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2362 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2363 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2364 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2365 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2369 @section Killing the Child Process
2374 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2377 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2378 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2381 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2382 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2383 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2384 outside the debugger.
2386 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2387 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2388 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2389 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2390 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2391 breakpoint settings).
2393 @node Inferiors and Programs
2394 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2396 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2397 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2398 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2399 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2400 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2401 from multiple executables.
2404 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2405 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2406 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2407 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2408 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2409 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2410 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2411 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2412 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2413 threads running in it.
2415 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2419 @kindex info inferiors
2420 @item info inferiors
2421 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2423 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2427 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2430 the target system's inferior identifier
2433 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2438 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2439 indicates the current inferior.
2443 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2446 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2447 Num Description Executable
2448 2 process 2307 hello
2449 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2452 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2455 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2456 @item inferior @var{infno}
2457 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2458 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2459 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2463 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2464 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2465 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2466 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2467 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2468 @w{@code{remove-inferior}} command.
2471 @kindex add-inferior
2472 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2473 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2474 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2475 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2476 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2477 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2479 @kindex clone-inferior
2480 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2481 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2482 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2483 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2484 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2487 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2488 Num Description Executable
2489 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2490 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2493 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2494 Num Description Executable
2496 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2499 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2501 @kindex remove-inferior
2502 @item remove-inferior @var{infno}
2503 Removes the inferior @var{infno}. It is not possible to remove an
2504 inferior that is running with this command. For those, use the
2505 @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2509 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2510 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2511 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2512 using the @w{@code{kill inferior}} command:
2515 @kindex detach inferior @var{infno}
2516 @item detach inferior @var{infno}
2517 Detach from the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2518 @var{infno}. Note that the inferior's entry still stays on the list
2519 of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its Description will
2522 @kindex kill inferior @var{infno}
2523 @item kill inferior @var{infno}
2524 Kill the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2525 @var{infno}. Note that the inferior's entry still stays on the list
2526 of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its Description will
2530 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2531 @code{detach inferior}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferior}, or after
2532 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2533 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2536 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2537 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2540 @kindex set print inferior-events
2541 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2542 @item set print inferior-events
2543 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2544 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2545 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2546 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2547 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2548 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2550 @kindex show print inferior-events
2551 @item show print inferior-events
2552 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2553 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2556 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2557 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2558 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2561 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2562 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2563 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2564 info program-spaces}} command.
2567 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2568 @item maint info program-spaces
2569 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2572 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2576 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2579 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2580 the @code{file} command.
2585 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2586 indicates the current program space.
2588 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2589 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2590 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2593 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2596 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2600 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2601 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2602 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2603 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2604 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2607 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2610 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2613 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2614 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2618 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2620 @cindex threads of execution
2621 @cindex multiple threads
2622 @cindex switching threads
2623 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2624 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2625 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2626 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2627 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2628 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2629 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2631 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2635 @item automatic notification of new threads
2636 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2637 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2638 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2639 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2640 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2641 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2642 messages on thread start and exit.
2643 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2644 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2645 isn't compatible with the program.
2649 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2650 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2651 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2652 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2653 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2657 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2658 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2659 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2660 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2662 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2663 @c doesn't support threads"?
2666 @cindex focus of debugging
2667 @cindex current thread
2668 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2669 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2670 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2671 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2672 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2674 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2675 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2676 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2677 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2678 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2679 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2680 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2681 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2682 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2683 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2686 [New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2690 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2691 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2694 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2695 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2696 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2698 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2699 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2700 @c threads ab initio?
2702 @cindex thread number
2703 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2704 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2705 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2708 @kindex info threads
2710 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2711 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2715 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2718 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2721 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2722 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2726 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2730 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2731 indicates the current thread.
2735 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2738 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2740 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2741 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2742 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2746 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2747 Solaris-specific command:
2750 @item maint info sol-threads
2751 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2752 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2753 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2757 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2758 @item thread @var{threadno}
2759 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2760 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2761 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2762 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2763 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2766 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2767 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2768 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2769 8 printf ("hello\n");
2773 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2774 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2777 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2778 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2779 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2780 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2781 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2782 information on convenience variables.
2784 @kindex thread apply
2785 @cindex apply command to several threads
2786 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2787 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2788 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2789 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2790 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2791 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2792 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2793 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2796 @cindex name a thread
2797 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2798 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2799 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2800 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2802 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2803 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2804 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2805 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2806 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2808 @kindex set print thread-events
2809 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2810 @item set print thread-events
2811 @itemx set print thread-events on
2812 @itemx set print thread-events off
2813 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2814 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2815 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2816 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2817 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2819 @kindex show print thread-events
2820 @item show print thread-events
2821 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2822 have started and exited.
2825 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2826 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2827 programs with multiple threads.
2829 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2830 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2833 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2834 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2835 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2836 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2837 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2838 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2841 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2842 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2843 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2844 to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2845 with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2846 from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2848 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2849 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2850 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2851 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2852 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2853 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2854 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2856 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2857 only on some platforms.
2859 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2860 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2861 Display current libthread_db search path.
2863 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2864 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2865 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2866 @item set debug libthread-db
2867 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2868 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2869 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2873 @section Debugging Forks
2875 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2876 @cindex multiple processes
2877 @cindex processes, multiple
2878 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2879 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2880 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2881 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2882 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2883 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2884 will cause it to terminate.
2886 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2887 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2888 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2889 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2890 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2891 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2892 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2893 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2894 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2895 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2897 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2898 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2899 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2900 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2902 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2903 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2905 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2906 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2909 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2910 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2911 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2912 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2913 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2917 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2918 unimpeded. This is the default.
2921 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2926 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2927 @item show follow-fork-mode
2928 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2931 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2932 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2933 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2936 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2937 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2938 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2939 retain debugger control over them both.
2943 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2944 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2945 independently. This is the default.
2948 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2949 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2950 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2955 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2956 @item show detach-on-fork
2957 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2960 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2961 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2962 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2963 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2964 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2965 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
2967 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2968 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it
2969 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}}
2970 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2973 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2974 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2975 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2976 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2977 the child process's @code{main}.
2979 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
2980 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2982 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2983 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
2984 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
2985 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
2986 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
2987 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
2991 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
2992 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
2994 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
2995 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
2997 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3001 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3002 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3003 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3009 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3011 Id Description Executable
3014 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3015 Program exited normally.
3016 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3017 Id Description Executable
3023 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3024 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3025 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3026 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3027 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3032 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3033 Id Description Executable
3036 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3037 Program exited normally.
3038 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3039 Id Description Executable
3046 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3047 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3048 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3050 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3051 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3056 @cindex snapshot of a process
3057 @cindex rewind program state
3059 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3060 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3061 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3064 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3065 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3066 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3067 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3068 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3070 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3071 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3072 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3073 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3074 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3075 start again from there.
3077 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3078 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3080 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3085 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3086 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3087 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3089 @kindex info checkpoints
3090 @item info checkpoints
3091 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3092 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3099 @item Source line, or label
3102 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3103 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3104 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3105 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3106 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3107 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3108 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3110 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3111 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3112 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3115 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3116 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3117 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3121 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3122 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3123 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3124 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3125 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3126 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3127 previously read data can be read again.
3129 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3130 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3131 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3132 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3133 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3134 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3136 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3137 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3138 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3139 different execution path this time.
3141 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3142 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3143 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3144 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3145 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3146 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3147 potentially pose a problem.
3149 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3151 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3152 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3153 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3154 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3155 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3158 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3159 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3160 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3161 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3162 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3165 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3167 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3168 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3169 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3171 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3172 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3173 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3174 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3175 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3176 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3177 explicitly request this information at any time.
3180 @kindex info program
3182 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3183 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3187 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3188 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3190 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3194 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3197 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3198 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3199 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3200 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3201 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3202 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3205 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3206 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3207 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3208 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3209 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3213 @cindex data breakpoints
3214 @cindex memory tracing
3215 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3216 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3217 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3218 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3219 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3220 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3221 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3222 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3223 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3224 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3227 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3228 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3232 @cindex breakpoint on events
3233 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3234 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3235 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3236 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3237 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3238 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3239 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3241 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3242 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3243 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3244 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3245 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3246 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3247 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3248 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3251 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3252 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3253 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3254 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3255 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3256 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3257 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3260 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3261 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3262 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3263 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3264 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3265 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3266 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3267 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3268 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3269 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3273 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3275 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3276 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3278 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3281 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3282 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3283 @cindex latest breakpoint
3284 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3285 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3286 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3287 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3288 convenience variables.
3291 @item break @var{location}
3292 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3293 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3294 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3295 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3296 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3298 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3299 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3300 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3303 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3304 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3305 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3308 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3309 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3310 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3311 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3312 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3313 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3314 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3315 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3316 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3319 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3320 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3321 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3322 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3323 existed when your program stopped.
3325 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3326 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3327 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3328 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3329 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3330 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3331 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3334 @item tbreak @var{args}
3335 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3336 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3337 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3338 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3341 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3342 @item hbreak @var{args}
3343 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3344 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3345 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3346 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3347 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3348 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3349 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3350 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3351 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3352 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3353 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3354 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3355 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3356 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3357 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3358 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3359 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3360 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3363 @item thbreak @var{args}
3364 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3365 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3366 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3367 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3368 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3369 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3370 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3371 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3374 @cindex regular expression
3375 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3376 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3377 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3378 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3379 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3380 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3381 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3382 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3383 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3385 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3386 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3387 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3388 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3389 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3390 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3392 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3393 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3394 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3397 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3398 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3399 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3402 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3405 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3406 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3407 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3408 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3409 every function in a given file:
3412 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3415 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3416 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3418 @kindex info breakpoints
3419 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3420 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3421 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3422 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3423 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3424 about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3425 each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3428 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3430 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3432 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3433 @item Enabled or Disabled
3434 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3435 that are not enabled.
3437 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3438 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3439 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3440 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3441 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3442 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3444 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3445 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3446 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3447 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3451 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3452 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3453 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3454 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3455 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3459 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3460 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3461 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3462 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3463 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3466 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3467 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3468 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3469 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3470 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3471 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3474 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3475 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3476 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3477 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3479 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3480 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3481 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3482 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3486 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3487 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3490 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3491 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3494 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3495 several places where that function is inlined.
3498 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3499 the relevant locations@footnote{
3500 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3501 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3502 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3503 info with line numbers for them.}.
3505 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3506 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3507 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3508 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3509 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3510 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3511 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3516 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3517 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3519 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3520 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3521 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3524 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3525 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3526 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3527 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3528 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3529 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3530 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3531 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3532 that belong to that breakpoint.
3534 @cindex pending breakpoints
3535 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3536 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3537 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3538 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3539 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3540 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3541 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3542 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3543 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3544 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3545 is not yet resolved.
3547 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3548 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3549 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3550 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3551 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3552 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3554 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3555 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3556 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3557 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3559 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3560 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3561 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3563 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3564 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3565 address specification to an address:
3567 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3568 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3570 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3571 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3572 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3574 @item set breakpoint pending on
3575 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3576 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3578 @item set breakpoint pending off
3579 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3580 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3581 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3583 @item show breakpoint pending
3584 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3587 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3588 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3589 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3591 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3592 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3593 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3594 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3595 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3596 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3597 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3600 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3602 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3603 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3605 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3606 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3607 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3608 breakpoint must be used.
3610 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3611 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3612 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3613 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3616 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3617 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3618 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3619 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3620 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3621 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3622 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3623 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3624 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3626 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3627 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3629 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3630 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3631 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3632 removed from the target when it stops.
3634 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3635 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3636 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3637 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3638 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3640 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3641 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3642 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3643 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3644 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3645 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3646 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3649 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3650 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3651 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3652 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3653 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3654 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3655 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3656 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3659 @node Set Watchpoints
3660 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3662 @cindex setting watchpoints
3663 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3664 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3665 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3666 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3667 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3671 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3674 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3675 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3676 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3679 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3680 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3681 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3684 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3685 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3686 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3687 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3688 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3689 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3690 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3691 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3692 the expression changes.
3694 @cindex software watchpoints
3695 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3696 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3697 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3698 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3699 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3700 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3703 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3704 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3705 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3709 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3710 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3711 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3712 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3713 to watch the value of a single variable:
3716 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3719 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3720 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3721 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3722 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3723 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3724 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3726 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3727 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3728 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3729 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3730 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3731 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3732 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3736 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3737 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3741 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3742 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3743 or written into by the program.
3745 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3746 @item info watchpoints
3747 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3748 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3751 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3752 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3753 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3754 a never-changing value:
3757 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3758 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3759 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3760 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3763 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3764 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3765 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3766 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3767 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3768 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3770 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3771 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3772 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3773 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3774 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3775 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3776 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3777 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3780 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3781 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3782 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3784 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3785 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3786 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3789 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3790 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3791 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3793 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3796 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3800 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3802 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3803 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3804 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3805 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3806 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3807 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3808 will print a message like this:
3811 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3814 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3815 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3816 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3817 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3818 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3819 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3820 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3821 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3823 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3824 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3825 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3826 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3827 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3828 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3831 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3835 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3837 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3838 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3839 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3840 expression with separately allocated resources.
3842 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3843 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3844 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3846 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3847 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3848 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3849 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3850 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3851 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3852 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3853 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3854 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3856 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3857 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3858 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3859 watched expression from every thread.
3862 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3863 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3864 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3865 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3866 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3867 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3868 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3869 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3870 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3873 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3875 @node Set Catchpoints
3876 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3877 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3878 @cindex exception handlers
3879 @cindex event handling
3881 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3882 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3883 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3887 @item catch @var{event}
3888 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3891 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3892 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3895 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3898 @cindex Ada exception catching
3899 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3900 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3901 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3902 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3903 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3905 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3906 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3907 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3908 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3909 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3910 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3911 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3912 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3914 @item exception unhandled
3915 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3918 A failed Ada assertion.
3921 @cindex break on fork/exec
3922 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3926 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3927 @cindex break on a system call.
3928 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3929 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3930 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3931 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3932 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3933 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3936 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3937 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3938 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3939 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3941 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3942 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3943 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3944 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3946 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3947 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
3948 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
3951 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
3952 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
3953 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
3954 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
3955 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
3956 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
3957 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
3958 behind the OS upgrades).
3960 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
3964 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3965 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3967 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3969 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
3970 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3974 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
3975 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3979 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
3982 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
3983 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
3985 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3987 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
3988 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3992 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
3993 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3997 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
3998 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
3999 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4002 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4003 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4005 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4007 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4008 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4012 Program exited normally.
4016 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4017 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4018 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4019 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4022 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4023 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4024 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4028 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4029 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4030 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4031 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4032 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4033 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4036 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4037 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4038 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4039 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4040 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4044 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4046 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4047 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4050 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4051 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4054 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4057 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4061 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4066 @item tcatch @var{event}
4067 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4068 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4072 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4074 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4075 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4079 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4080 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4081 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4082 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4083 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4084 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4085 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4086 disabled within interactive calls.
4089 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4092 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4095 @cindex raise exceptions
4096 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4097 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4098 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4099 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4100 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4101 out where the exception was raised.
4103 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4104 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4105 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4106 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4109 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4110 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4111 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4115 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4116 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4117 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4119 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4120 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4121 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4122 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4127 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4129 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4130 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4131 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4132 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4133 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4134 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4136 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4137 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4138 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4139 their breakpoint numbers.
4141 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4142 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4143 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4148 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4149 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4150 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4151 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4153 @item clear @var{location}
4154 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4155 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4156 most useful ones are listed below:
4159 @item clear @var{function}
4160 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4161 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4163 @item clear @var{linenum}
4164 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4165 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4166 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4169 @cindex delete breakpoints
4171 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4172 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4173 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4174 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4175 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4176 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4180 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4182 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4183 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4184 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4185 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4186 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4188 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4189 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4190 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4191 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4192 do not know which numbers to use.
4194 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4195 affects all of its locations.
4197 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4198 states of enablement:
4202 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4203 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4205 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4207 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4210 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4211 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4212 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4215 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4216 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4220 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4221 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4222 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4223 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4224 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4225 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4226 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4229 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4230 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4231 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4233 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4234 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4235 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4237 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4238 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4239 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4240 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4243 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4244 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4245 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4246 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4247 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4248 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4249 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4250 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4254 @subsection Break Conditions
4255 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4256 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4258 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4259 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4260 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4261 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4262 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4263 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4264 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4265 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4267 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4268 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4269 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4270 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4271 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4273 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4274 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4275 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4276 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4279 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4280 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4281 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4282 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4283 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4284 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4285 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4286 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4288 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4289 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4291 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4292 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4293 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4294 with the @code{condition} command.
4296 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4297 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4298 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4303 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4304 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4305 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4306 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4307 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4308 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4309 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4310 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4311 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4312 prints an error message:
4315 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4320 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4321 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4322 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4324 @item condition @var{bnum}
4325 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4326 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4329 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4330 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4331 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4332 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4333 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4334 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4335 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4336 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4337 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4338 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4339 your program reaches it.
4343 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4344 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4345 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4346 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4349 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4352 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4353 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4354 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4355 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4357 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4358 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4359 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4361 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4362 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4363 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4367 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4370 @node Break Commands
4371 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4373 @cindex breakpoint commands
4374 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4375 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4376 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4377 enable other breakpoints.
4381 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4382 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4383 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4385 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4386 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4387 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4389 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4390 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4392 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4393 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4394 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4395 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4396 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4397 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4398 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4402 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4403 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4405 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4406 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4407 that resumes execution.
4409 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4410 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4411 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4412 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4413 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4416 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4417 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4418 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4419 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4420 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4421 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4423 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4424 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4425 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4427 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4428 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4434 printf "x is %d\n",x
4439 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4440 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4441 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4442 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4443 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4444 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4445 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4456 @node Save Breakpoints
4457 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4459 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4460 breakpoints}} command.
4463 @kindex save breakpoints
4464 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4465 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4466 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4467 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4468 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4469 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4470 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4471 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4472 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4473 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4474 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4475 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4476 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4477 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4478 that can no longer be recreated.
4481 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4482 @node Error in Breakpoints
4483 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4485 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4486 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4488 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4489 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4491 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4492 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4496 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4497 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4498 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4500 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4501 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4503 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4504 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4505 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4507 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4508 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4509 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4510 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4512 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4513 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4514 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4515 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4516 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4517 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4518 first in the bundle.
4520 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4521 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4522 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4523 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4524 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4525 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4528 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4529 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4532 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4535 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4536 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4537 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4538 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4539 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4540 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4541 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4542 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4544 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4545 adjusted breakpoints:
4548 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4552 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4553 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4554 frequently than expected.
4556 @node Continuing and Stepping
4557 @section Continuing and Stepping
4561 @cindex resuming execution
4562 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4563 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4564 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4565 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4566 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4567 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4568 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4569 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4573 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4574 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4575 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4576 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4577 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4578 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4579 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4580 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4581 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4582 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4584 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4585 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4586 @code{continue} is ignored.
4588 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4589 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4590 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4594 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4595 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4596 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4597 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4599 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4600 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4601 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4602 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4603 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4604 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4608 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4610 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4611 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4612 abbreviated @code{s}.
4615 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4616 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4617 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4618 @c distinction here.
4619 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4620 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4621 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4622 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4623 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4624 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4628 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4629 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4630 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4631 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4632 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4633 called within the line.
4635 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4636 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4637 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4638 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4639 was any debugging information about the routine.
4641 @item step @var{count}
4642 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4643 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4644 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4647 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4648 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4649 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4650 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4651 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4652 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4653 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4654 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4656 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4659 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4660 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4662 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4663 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4664 @c function are executed without stopping.
4666 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4667 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4668 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4670 @kindex set step-mode
4672 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4673 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4674 @itemx set step-mode on
4675 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4676 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4677 information rather than stepping over it.
4679 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4680 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4681 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4683 @item set step-mode off
4684 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4685 debug information. This is the default.
4687 @item show step-mode
4688 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4689 source line debug information.
4692 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4694 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4695 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4696 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4698 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4699 ,Returning from a Function}).
4702 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4703 @cindex run until specified location
4706 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4707 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4708 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4709 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4710 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4711 than the address of the jump.
4713 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4714 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4715 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4716 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4717 through the next iteration.
4719 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4722 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4723 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4724 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4725 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4726 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4730 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4732 (@value{GDBP}) until
4733 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4736 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4737 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4738 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4739 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4740 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4741 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4742 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4744 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4745 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4748 @item until @var{location}
4749 @itemx u @var{location}
4750 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4751 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4752 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4753 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4754 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4755 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4756 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4757 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4758 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4759 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4760 invocations have returned.
4763 94 int factorial (int value)
4765 96 if (value > 1) @{
4766 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4773 @kindex advance @var{location}
4774 @itemx advance @var{location}
4775 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4776 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4777 @ref{Specify Location}.
4778 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4779 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4780 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4781 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4785 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4787 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4789 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4791 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4792 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4793 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4794 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4796 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4800 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4802 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4804 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4805 proceed until the function returns.
4807 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4814 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4815 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4816 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4817 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4818 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4819 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4820 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4821 requested an alarm).
4823 @cindex fatal signals
4824 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4825 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4826 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4827 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4828 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4829 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4831 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4832 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4835 @cindex handling signals
4836 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4837 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4838 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4839 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4840 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4843 @kindex info signals
4847 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4848 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4849 the defined types of signals.
4851 @item info signals @var{sig}
4852 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4854 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4857 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4858 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4859 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4860 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4861 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4862 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4863 say what change to make.
4867 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4868 Their full names are:
4872 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4873 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4876 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4877 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4880 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4883 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4884 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4888 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4889 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4890 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4894 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4895 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4899 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4901 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4902 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4903 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4904 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4905 program sees that signal when you continue.
4907 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4908 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4909 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4912 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4913 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4914 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4915 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4916 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4917 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4918 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4919 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4922 @cindex extra signal information
4923 @anchor{extra signal information}
4925 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4926 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4927 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4928 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4929 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4930 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4931 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4932 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4933 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4936 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4937 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4941 (@value{GDBP}) continue
4942 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
4943 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
4945 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4952 struct @{...@} _kill;
4953 struct @{...@} _timer;
4955 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4956 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4957 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4960 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4964 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4965 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4969 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4972 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4974 @cindex stopped threads
4975 @cindex threads, stopped
4977 @cindex continuing threads
4978 @cindex threads, continuing
4980 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4981 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4982 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4983 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4984 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4985 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4986 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4987 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4988 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4991 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4992 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4993 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4994 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4995 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4996 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5000 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5002 @cindex all-stop mode
5004 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5005 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5006 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5007 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5010 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5011 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5012 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5014 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5015 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5016 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5017 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5018 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5019 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5022 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5023 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5024 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5025 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5027 @cindex automatic thread selection
5028 @cindex switching threads automatically
5029 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5030 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5031 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5032 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5033 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5036 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5037 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5040 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5041 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5042 @cindex lock scheduler
5043 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5044 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5045 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5046 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5047 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5048 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5049 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5050 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5051 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5052 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5053 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5054 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5056 @item show scheduler-locking
5057 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5060 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5061 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5062 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5063 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5064 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5065 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5066 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5067 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5068 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5069 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5070 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5071 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5072 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5073 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5076 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5077 @item set schedule-multiple
5078 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5079 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5080 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5081 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5082 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5083 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5085 @item show schedule-multiple
5086 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5091 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5093 @cindex non-stop mode
5095 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5096 @c with more details.
5098 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5099 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5100 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5101 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5102 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5103 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5105 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5106 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5107 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5108 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5109 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5110 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5111 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5112 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5113 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5114 independently and simultaneously.
5116 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5117 or attach to your program:
5120 # Enable the async interface.
5123 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5126 # Finally, turn it on!
5130 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5133 @kindex set non-stop
5134 @item set non-stop on
5135 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5136 @item set non-stop off
5137 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5138 @kindex show non-stop
5140 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5143 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5144 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5145 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5146 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5147 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5148 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5149 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5152 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5153 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5154 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5156 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5157 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5158 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5159 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5160 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5162 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5163 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5164 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5165 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5166 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5168 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5170 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5171 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5172 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5173 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5174 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5175 previously current thread.
5177 @node Background Execution
5178 @subsection Background Execution
5180 @cindex foreground execution
5181 @cindex background execution
5182 @cindex asynchronous execution
5183 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5185 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5186 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5187 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5188 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5189 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5190 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5192 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5193 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5194 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5197 @kindex set target-async
5198 @item set target-async on
5199 Enable asynchronous mode.
5200 @item set target-async off
5201 Disable asynchronous mode.
5202 @kindex show target-async
5203 @item show target-async
5204 Show the current target-async setting.
5207 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5208 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5210 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5211 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5212 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5218 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5222 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5226 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5230 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5234 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5238 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5242 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5246 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5250 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5254 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5255 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5256 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5257 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5258 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5259 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5261 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5262 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5269 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5270 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5271 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5272 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5275 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5276 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5278 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5279 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5280 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5283 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5284 @cindex thread breakpoints
5285 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5286 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5287 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5288 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5289 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5290 specify some source line.
5292 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5293 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5294 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5295 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5296 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5298 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5299 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5302 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5303 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5304 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5307 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5312 @node Interrupted System Calls
5313 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5315 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5316 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5317 @cindex premature return from system calls
5318 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5319 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5320 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5321 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5322 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5323 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5326 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5327 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5330 For example, do not write code like this:
5336 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5337 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5339 Instead, write this:
5344 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5347 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5348 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5349 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5352 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5353 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5354 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5355 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5358 @subsection Observer Mode
5360 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5361 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5362 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5363 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5364 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5366 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5367 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5368 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5371 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5372 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5373 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5374 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5375 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5380 @item set observer on
5381 @itemx set observer off
5382 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5383 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5384 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5385 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5388 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5390 @kindex may-write-registers
5391 @item set may-write-registers on
5392 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5393 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5394 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5395 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5397 @item show may-write-registers
5398 Show the current permission to write registers.
5400 @kindex may-write-memory
5401 @item set may-write-memory on
5402 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5403 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5404 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5405 defaults to @code{on}.
5407 @item show may-write-memory
5408 Show the current permission to write memory.
5410 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5411 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5412 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5413 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5414 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5415 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5417 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5418 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5420 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5421 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5422 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5423 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5424 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5425 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5426 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5428 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5429 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5431 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5432 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5433 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5434 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5435 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5436 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5437 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5439 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5440 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5442 @kindex may-interrupt
5443 @item set may-interrupt on
5444 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5445 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5446 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5447 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5448 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5450 @item show may-interrupt
5451 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5455 @node Reverse Execution
5456 @chapter Running programs backward
5457 @cindex reverse execution
5458 @cindex running programs backward
5460 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5461 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5462 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5463 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5465 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5466 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5467 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5468 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5469 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5470 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5472 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5473 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5474 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5475 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5476 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5477 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5478 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5479 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5480 prior values@footnote{
5481 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5482 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5483 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5485 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5486 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5487 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5488 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5489 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5490 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5491 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5494 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5495 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5498 @kindex reverse-continue
5499 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5500 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5501 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5502 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5503 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5504 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5505 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5507 @kindex reverse-step
5508 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5509 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5510 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5511 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5513 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5514 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5515 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5516 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5517 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5518 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5520 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5521 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5523 @kindex reverse-stepi
5524 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5525 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5526 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5527 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5528 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5529 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5530 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5532 @kindex reverse-next
5533 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5534 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5535 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5536 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5537 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5538 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5539 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5540 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5541 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5542 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5544 @kindex reverse-nexti
5545 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5546 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5547 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5548 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5549 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5550 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5551 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5554 @kindex reverse-finish
5555 @item reverse-finish
5556 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5557 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5558 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5559 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5561 @kindex set exec-direction
5562 @item set exec-direction
5563 Set the direction of target execution.
5564 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5565 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5566 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5567 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5568 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5569 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5570 @item set exec-direction forward
5571 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5572 This is the default.
5576 @node Process Record and Replay
5577 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5578 @cindex process record and replay
5579 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5581 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5582 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5583 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5586 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5587 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5588 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5589 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5590 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5591 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5592 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5593 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5597 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5598 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5599 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5602 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5603 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5604 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5605 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5606 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5607 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5609 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5610 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5611 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5612 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5614 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5615 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5618 @kindex target record
5622 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5623 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5624 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5625 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5626 the @kbd{target record} command.
5628 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5630 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5631 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5632 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5633 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5634 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5636 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5637 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5638 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5639 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5640 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5641 support these two modes.
5646 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5647 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5648 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5650 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5651 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5652 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5653 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5654 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5656 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5657 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5658 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5659 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5660 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5662 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5663 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5666 @item record save @var{filename}
5667 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5668 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
5669 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
5671 @kindex record restore
5672 @item record restore @var{filename}
5673 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5674 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
5676 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5677 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5678 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5680 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5681 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5682 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5683 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5684 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5685 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5686 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5687 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5689 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5690 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5691 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5693 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5694 @item show record insn-number-max
5695 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5697 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5698 @item set record stop-at-limit
5699 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5700 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5701 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5702 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5703 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5704 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5706 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5707 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5709 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5710 @item show record stop-at-limit
5711 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5713 @kindex set record memory-query
5714 @item set record memory-query
5715 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
5716 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
5717 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
5719 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
5720 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
5721 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
5722 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
5725 @kindex show record memory-query
5726 @item show record memory-query
5727 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
5731 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5732 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5736 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5738 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5740 Highest recorded instruction number.
5742 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5744 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5746 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5749 @kindex record delete
5752 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5753 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5754 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5755 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5760 @chapter Examining the Stack
5762 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5763 stopped and how it got there.
5766 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5768 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5769 the arguments of the call,
5770 and the local variables of the function being called.
5771 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5772 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5775 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5776 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5778 @cindex selected frame
5779 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5780 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5781 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5782 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5783 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5784 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5786 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5787 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5788 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5791 * Frames:: Stack frames
5792 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5793 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5794 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5799 @section Stack Frames
5801 @cindex frame, definition
5803 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5804 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5805 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5806 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5807 which the function is executing.
5809 @cindex initial frame
5810 @cindex outermost frame
5811 @cindex innermost frame
5812 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5813 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5814 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5815 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5816 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5817 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5818 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5819 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5821 @cindex frame pointer
5822 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5823 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5824 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5825 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5826 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5827 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5829 @cindex frame number
5830 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5831 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5832 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5833 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5834 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5836 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5837 @c underflow problems.
5838 @cindex frameless execution
5839 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5840 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5842 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5844 generates functions without a frame.)
5845 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5846 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5847 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5848 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5849 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5850 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5851 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5854 @kindex frame@r{, command}
5855 @cindex current stack frame
5856 @item frame @var{args}
5857 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5858 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5859 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5860 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5862 @kindex select-frame
5863 @cindex selecting frame silently
5865 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5866 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5874 @cindex call stack traces
5875 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5876 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5877 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5882 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5885 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5886 frames in the stack.
5888 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5889 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5891 @item backtrace @var{n}
5893 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5895 @item backtrace -@var{n}
5897 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5899 @item backtrace full
5901 @itemx bt full @var{n}
5902 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
5903 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5904 number of frames to print, as described above.
5909 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5910 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5912 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5913 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5914 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5915 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5916 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5917 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5918 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5919 multi-threaded program.
5921 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5922 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5923 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5924 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5925 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5928 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5929 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5933 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5935 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5936 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5938 (More stack frames follow...)
5943 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5944 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5945 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5948 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5949 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5950 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5951 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5952 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5954 @cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5955 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5956 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5957 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5958 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5959 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5960 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5961 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5962 such a backtrace might look like:
5966 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5968 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5969 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5971 (More stack frames follow...)
5976 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5977 shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5979 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5980 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5981 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5983 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5984 @cindex program entry point
5985 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
5986 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5987 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5988 @code{main}@footnote{
5989 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5990 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5991 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5992 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5993 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5994 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5996 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5997 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6000 @item set backtrace past-main
6001 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6002 @kindex set backtrace
6003 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6005 @item set backtrace past-main off
6006 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6009 @item show backtrace past-main
6010 @kindex show backtrace
6011 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6013 @item set backtrace past-entry
6014 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6015 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6016 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6017 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6019 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6020 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6021 application. This is the default.
6023 @item show backtrace past-entry
6024 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6026 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6027 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6028 @cindex backtrace limit
6029 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6032 @item show backtrace limit
6033 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6037 @section Selecting a Frame
6039 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6040 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6041 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6042 of the stack frame just selected.
6045 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6046 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6049 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6050 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6051 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6054 @item frame @var{addr}
6056 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6057 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6058 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6059 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6060 switches between them.
6062 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6063 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6065 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6066 pointer and a program counter.
6068 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6069 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6073 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6074 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6075 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6078 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6080 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6081 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6082 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6083 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6086 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6087 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6088 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6089 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6097 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6099 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6103 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6104 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6105 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6106 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6107 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6111 @kindex down-silently
6113 @item up-silently @var{n}
6114 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6115 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6116 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6117 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6118 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6123 @section Information About a Frame
6125 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6131 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6132 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6133 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6134 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6135 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6138 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6141 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6146 the address of the frame
6148 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6150 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6152 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6154 the address of the frame's arguments
6156 the address of the frame's local variables
6158 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6160 which registers were saved in the frame
6163 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6164 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6165 the usual conventions.
6167 @item info frame @var{addr}
6168 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6169 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6170 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6171 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6172 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6173 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6177 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6181 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6182 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6183 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6186 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
6187 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
6189 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
6190 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
6191 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
6192 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
6193 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
6199 @chapter Examining Source Files
6201 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6202 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6203 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6204 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6205 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6206 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6207 source files by explicit command.
6209 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6210 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6211 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6214 * List:: Printing source lines
6215 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6216 * Edit:: Editing source files
6217 * Search:: Searching source files
6218 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6219 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6223 @section Printing Source Lines
6226 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6227 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6228 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6229 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6230 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6232 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6235 @item list @var{linenum}
6236 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6237 current source file.
6239 @item list @var{function}
6240 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6244 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6245 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6246 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6247 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6248 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6251 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6254 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6255 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6256 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6259 @kindex set listsize
6260 @item set listsize @var{count}
6261 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6262 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6264 @kindex show listsize
6266 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6269 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6270 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6271 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6272 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6273 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6275 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6276 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6277 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6278 to specify some source line.
6280 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6283 @item list @var{linespec}
6284 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6286 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6287 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6288 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6289 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6290 the same source file as the first linespec.
6292 @item list ,@var{last}
6293 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6295 @item list @var{first},
6296 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6299 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6302 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6305 As described in the preceding table.
6308 @node Specify Location
6309 @section Specifying a Location
6310 @cindex specifying location
6313 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6314 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6315 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6316 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6318 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6319 @value{GDBN} understands:
6323 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6326 @itemx +@var{offset}
6327 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6328 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6329 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6330 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6331 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6332 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6333 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6336 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6337 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6339 @item @var{function}
6340 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6341 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6343 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6344 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6345 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6346 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6347 functions in different source files.
6350 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6351 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6352 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6353 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6354 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6356 @item *@var{address}
6357 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6358 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6359 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6360 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6361 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6364 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6365 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6366 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6367 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6368 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6372 @item @var{expression}
6373 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6375 @item @var{funcaddr}
6376 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6377 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6378 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6379 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6380 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6381 (although the Pascal form also works).
6383 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6384 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6386 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6387 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6388 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6389 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6390 functions with identical names in different source files.
6397 @section Editing Source Files
6398 @cindex editing source files
6401 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6402 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6403 The editing program of your choice
6404 is invoked with the current line set to
6405 the active line in the program.
6406 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6407 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6410 @item edit @var{location}
6411 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6412 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6413 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6414 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6415 command most commonly used:
6418 @item edit @var{number}
6419 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6421 @item edit @var{function}
6422 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6427 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6428 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6430 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6431 following command-line syntax:
6433 ex +@var{number} file
6435 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6436 the file where to start editing.}.
6437 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6438 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6439 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6440 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6446 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6448 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6453 @section Searching Source Files
6454 @cindex searching source files
6456 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6461 @kindex forward-search
6462 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6463 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6464 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6465 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6466 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6467 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6470 @kindex reverse-search
6471 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6472 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6473 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6474 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6475 this command as @code{rev}.
6479 @section Specifying Source Directories
6482 @cindex directories for source files
6483 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6484 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6485 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6486 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6487 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6488 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6489 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6491 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6492 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6493 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6494 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6495 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6496 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6497 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6498 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6499 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6500 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6501 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6503 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6504 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6505 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6506 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6507 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6508 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6510 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6513 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6514 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6515 each line is in the file.
6519 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6520 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6521 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6523 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6524 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6526 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6527 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6528 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6529 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6530 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6531 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6532 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6533 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6534 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6535 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6536 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6537 name to look up the sources.
6539 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6540 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6541 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6542 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6543 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6544 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6545 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6546 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6548 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6549 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6550 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6551 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6552 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6553 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6554 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6556 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6557 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6558 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6559 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6560 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6561 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6562 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6565 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6566 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6567 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6568 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6569 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6570 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6571 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6573 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6574 @cindex default source path substitution
6575 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6576 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6577 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6578 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6579 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6580 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6581 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6582 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6583 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6587 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6588 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6589 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6590 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6591 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6592 part of absolute file names) or
6593 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6594 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6598 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6599 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6600 @cindex compilation directory
6601 @cindex current directory
6602 @cindex working directory
6603 @cindex directory, current
6604 @cindex directory, compilation
6605 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6606 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6607 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6608 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6609 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6610 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6613 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6615 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6616 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6618 @item set directories @var{path-list}
6619 @kindex set directories
6620 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
6621 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
6623 @item show directories
6624 @kindex show directories
6625 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6627 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6628 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6629 @kindex set substitute-path
6630 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6631 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6632 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6634 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6635 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6638 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6642 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6643 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6644 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6646 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6647 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6648 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6651 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6654 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6655 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6659 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6660 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6661 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6662 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6665 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6666 @kindex unset substitute-path
6667 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6668 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6669 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6671 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6673 @item show substitute-path [path]
6674 @kindex show substitute-path
6675 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6676 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6678 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6683 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6684 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6685 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6689 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6692 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6693 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6694 directories in one command.
6698 @section Source and Machine Code
6699 @cindex source line and its code address
6701 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6702 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6703 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6704 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6705 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6706 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6707 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6712 @item info line @var{linespec}
6713 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6714 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6715 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6718 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6719 the object code for the first line of function
6720 @code{m4_changequote}:
6722 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6723 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6725 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6726 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6730 @cindex code address and its source line
6731 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6732 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6734 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6735 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6738 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6739 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6740 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6741 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6742 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6743 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6744 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6745 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6750 @cindex assembly instructions
6751 @cindex instructions, assembly
6752 @cindex machine instructions
6753 @cindex listing machine instructions
6755 @itemx disassemble /m
6756 @itemx disassemble /r
6757 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6758 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6759 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6760 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6761 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6762 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6763 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6764 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6765 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6766 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
6769 @item @var{start},@var{end}
6770 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
6771 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
6772 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
6773 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
6777 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
6778 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
6780 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6781 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6783 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6784 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6787 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6788 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6791 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6792 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6793 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6794 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6795 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6796 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6797 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6798 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6799 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6800 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6801 End of assembler dump.
6804 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6805 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6808 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6809 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6811 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6812 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6813 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6814 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6815 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6817 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6818 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6819 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6823 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6824 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6825 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6827 End of assembler dump.
6830 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
6833 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
6834 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
6835 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
6836 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
6837 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
6838 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
6839 End of assembler dump.
6842 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6843 mnemonics or other syntax.
6845 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6846 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6847 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6848 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6849 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6852 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
6853 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6854 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6855 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6856 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6857 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6859 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6860 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6861 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6862 assemblers for x86-based targets.
6864 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
6865 @item show disassembly-flavor
6866 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6870 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
6871 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
6872 @item set disassemble-next-line
6873 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
6874 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6875 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6876 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6877 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6878 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6879 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6880 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6881 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6882 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6883 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6884 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6885 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6886 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6887 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6893 @chapter Examining Data
6895 @cindex printing data
6896 @cindex examining data
6899 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6900 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6901 @c different window or something like that.
6902 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6903 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6904 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6905 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6906 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
6907 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
6910 @item print @var{expr}
6911 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6912 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6913 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6914 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6915 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6919 @itemx print /@var{f}
6920 @cindex reprint the last value
6921 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6922 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6923 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6926 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6927 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6928 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6930 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6931 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6932 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6936 * Expressions:: Expressions
6937 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6938 * Variables:: Program variables
6939 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6940 * Output Formats:: Output formats
6941 * Memory:: Examining memory
6942 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
6943 * Print Settings:: Print settings
6944 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
6945 * Value History:: Value history
6946 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6947 * Registers:: Registers
6948 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6949 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6950 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6951 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6952 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6953 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6954 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6955 character set than GDB does
6956 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6957 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6961 @section Expressions
6964 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6965 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6966 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6967 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6968 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6969 you compiled your program to include this information; see
6972 @cindex arrays in expressions
6973 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6974 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6975 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6976 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6977 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6978 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6980 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6981 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6982 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6985 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6986 expressions regardless of your programming language.
6988 @cindex casts, in expressions
6989 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6990 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6991 at that address in memory.
6992 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6994 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6995 to programming languages:
6999 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7000 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7003 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7004 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7006 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7007 @cindex type casting memory
7008 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7009 @cindex casts, to view memory
7010 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7011 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7012 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7013 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7014 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7015 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7018 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7019 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7020 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7022 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7023 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7024 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7025 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7026 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7027 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7028 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7030 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7031 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7032 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7033 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7034 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7037 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7038 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7039 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7040 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7041 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7042 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7043 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7046 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7047 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7048 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7050 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7053 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7056 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7057 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7058 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7059 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7060 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7061 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7063 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7064 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7065 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7066 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7067 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7074 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7075 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7076 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7078 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7081 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7082 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7083 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7084 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7085 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7086 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7087 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7088 in the use of the menu.
7090 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7091 when an ambiguity is detected.
7093 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7094 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7096 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7097 @item show multiple-symbols
7098 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7102 @section Program Variables
7104 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7107 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7108 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7112 global (or file-static)
7119 visible according to the scope rules of the
7120 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7123 @noindent This means that in the function
7138 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7139 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7140 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7141 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7143 @cindex variable name conflict
7144 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7145 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7146 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7147 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7148 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7149 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
7150 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7152 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7154 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7155 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7158 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7159 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7163 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7164 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7165 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7166 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7169 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7172 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7173 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7174 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7175 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7176 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7179 @cindex wrong values
7180 @cindex variable values, wrong
7181 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7182 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7184 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7185 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7186 scope, and just before exit.
7188 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7189 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7190 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7191 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7192 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7193 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7194 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7195 variable definitions may be gone.
7197 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7198 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7201 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7202 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7203 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7204 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7205 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7206 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7207 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7210 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7213 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7214 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7215 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
7216 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
7217 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
7218 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
7219 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
7220 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
7221 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
7222 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
7223 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7225 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7226 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7227 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7228 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7230 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7231 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7232 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7233 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7234 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7239 signed char var1[] = "A";
7242 You get during debugging
7247 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7251 @section Artificial Arrays
7253 @cindex artificial array
7255 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7256 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7257 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7258 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7261 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7262 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7263 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7264 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7265 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7266 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7267 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7268 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7269 example. If a program says
7272 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7276 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7282 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7283 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7284 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7285 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7286 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7288 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7289 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7290 The value need not be in memory:
7292 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7293 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7296 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7297 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7298 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7300 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7301 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7304 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7305 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7306 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7307 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7308 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7309 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7310 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7311 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7312 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7313 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7323 @node Output Formats
7324 @section Output Formats
7326 @cindex formatted output
7327 @cindex output formats
7328 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7329 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7330 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7331 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7332 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7334 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7335 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7336 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7337 letters supported are:
7341 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7345 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7348 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7351 Print as integer in octal.
7354 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7355 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7356 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7357 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7360 @cindex unknown address, locating
7361 @cindex locate address
7362 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7363 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7364 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7367 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7368 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7372 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7373 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7376 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7377 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7378 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7379 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7381 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7382 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7383 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7387 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7388 using typical floating point syntax.
7391 @cindex printing strings
7392 @cindex printing byte arrays
7393 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7394 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7395 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7398 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7399 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7400 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7404 @cindex raw printing
7405 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7406 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7407 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7408 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7409 pretty-printer which might exist.
7412 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7419 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7420 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7422 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7423 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7424 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7427 @section Examining Memory
7429 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7430 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7432 @cindex examining memory
7434 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7435 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7438 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7441 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7442 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7443 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7444 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7445 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7448 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7449 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7450 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7451 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7454 @item @var{f}, the display format
7455 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7456 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7457 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7458 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7459 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7461 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7462 The unit size is any of
7468 Halfwords (two bytes).
7470 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7472 Giant words (eight bytes).
7475 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7476 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7477 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7478 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7479 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
7480 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7481 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7482 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7483 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7484 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7487 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7488 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7489 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7490 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7491 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7492 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7493 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7494 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7495 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7496 a value from memory).
7499 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7500 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7501 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7502 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7503 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7505 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7506 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7507 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7508 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7509 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7511 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7512 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7513 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7514 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7515 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7516 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7517 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7518 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7519 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7521 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7522 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7523 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7524 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7525 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7526 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7527 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7529 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7530 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7533 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7534 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7535 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7536 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7537 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7538 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7541 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7542 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7543 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7544 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7545 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7546 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7547 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7548 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7549 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7551 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7552 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7553 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7555 @cindex remote memory comparison
7556 @cindex verify remote memory image
7557 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7558 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7559 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7560 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7564 @kindex compare-sections
7565 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7566 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7567 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7568 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7569 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7570 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7575 @section Automatic Display
7576 @cindex automatic display
7577 @cindex display of expressions
7579 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7580 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7581 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7582 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7583 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7584 The automatic display looks like this:
7588 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7592 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7593 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7594 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7595 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7596 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7597 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7601 @item display @var{expr}
7602 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7603 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7605 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7607 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7608 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7609 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7610 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7611 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7613 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7614 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7615 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7616 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7617 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7620 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7621 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7622 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7625 @kindex delete display
7627 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7628 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7629 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
7631 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7632 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7634 @kindex disable display
7635 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7636 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7637 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7638 enabled again later.
7640 @kindex enable display
7641 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7642 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7643 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7646 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7647 done when your program stops.
7649 @kindex info display
7651 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7652 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7653 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7654 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7655 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7658 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7659 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7660 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7661 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7662 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7663 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7664 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7665 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7666 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7667 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7668 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7670 @node Print Settings
7671 @section Print Settings
7673 @cindex format options
7674 @cindex print settings
7675 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7676 and symbols are printed.
7679 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7683 @item set print address
7684 @itemx set print address on
7685 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7686 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7687 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7688 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7689 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7690 @code{set print address on}:
7695 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7697 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7701 @item set print address off
7702 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7703 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7707 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7709 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7710 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7714 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7715 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7716 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7717 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7720 @item show print address
7721 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7724 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7725 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7726 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7727 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7728 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7729 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7730 it prints a symbolic address:
7733 @item set print symbol-filename on
7734 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7735 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7736 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7737 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7739 @item set print symbol-filename off
7740 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7743 @item show print symbol-filename
7744 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7745 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7748 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7749 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7750 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7752 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7753 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7756 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7757 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7758 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7759 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7760 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7761 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7763 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7764 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7768 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7769 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7770 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7771 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7772 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7773 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7774 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7775 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7778 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7779 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7780 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7784 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7785 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7786 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7789 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7792 @item set print array
7793 @itemx set print array on
7794 @cindex pretty print arrays
7795 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7796 but uses more space. The default is off.
7798 @item set print array off
7799 Return to compressed format for arrays.
7801 @item show print array
7802 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7805 @cindex print array indexes
7806 @item set print array-indexes
7807 @itemx set print array-indexes on
7808 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7809 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7810 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7812 @item set print array-indexes off
7813 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7815 @item show print array-indexes
7816 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7819 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7820 @cindex number of array elements to print
7821 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7822 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7823 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7824 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7825 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7826 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7827 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7829 @item show print elements
7830 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7831 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7833 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7834 @kindex set print frame-arguments
7835 @cindex printing frame argument values
7836 @cindex print all frame argument values
7837 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7838 @cindex do not print frame argument values
7839 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7840 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7845 The values of all arguments are printed.
7848 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7849 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7850 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7851 only scalar arguments are shown:
7854 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7859 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7860 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7863 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7868 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7869 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7870 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7871 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7872 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7873 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7874 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7875 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7876 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7877 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7879 @item show print frame-arguments
7880 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7882 @item set print repeats
7883 @cindex repeated array elements
7884 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7885 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7886 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7887 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7888 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7889 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7890 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7892 @item show print repeats
7893 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7896 @item set print null-stop
7897 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7898 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7899 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7900 contain only short strings.
7903 @item show print null-stop
7904 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7905 @sc{null} character.
7907 @item set print pretty on
7908 @cindex print structures in indented form
7909 @cindex indentation in structure display
7910 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7911 per line, like this:
7926 @item set print pretty off
7927 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7931 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7932 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7937 This is the default format.
7939 @item show print pretty
7940 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7942 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
7943 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7944 @cindex octal escapes in strings
7945 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7946 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7947 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7948 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7949 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7951 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
7952 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7953 international character sets, and is the default.
7955 @item show print sevenbit-strings
7956 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7958 @item set print union on
7959 @cindex unions in structures, printing
7960 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7961 and other unions. This is the default setting.
7963 @item set print union off
7964 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7965 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7968 @item show print union
7969 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7970 structures and other unions.
7972 For example, given the declarations
7975 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7976 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7977 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7988 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7992 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7995 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7999 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
8002 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
8006 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
8012 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8015 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8016 @item set print demangle
8017 @itemx set print demangle on
8018 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8019 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8020 linkage. The default is on.
8022 @item show print demangle
8023 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8025 @item set print asm-demangle
8026 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8027 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8028 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8031 @item show print asm-demangle
8032 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8035 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8036 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8037 @kindex set demangle-style
8038 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8039 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8040 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8044 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8047 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8048 This is the default.
8051 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8054 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8057 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8058 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8059 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8060 require further enhancement to permit that.
8063 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8065 @item show demangle-style
8066 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8068 @item set print object
8069 @itemx set print object on
8070 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8071 @cindex display derived types
8072 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8073 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8074 the virtual function table.
8076 @item set print object off
8077 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8078 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8080 @item show print object
8081 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8083 @item set print static-members
8084 @itemx set print static-members on
8085 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8086 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8088 @item set print static-members off
8089 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8091 @item show print static-members
8092 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8094 @item set print pascal_static-members
8095 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8096 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8097 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8098 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8100 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8101 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8103 @item show print pascal_static-members
8104 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8106 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8107 @item set print vtbl
8108 @itemx set print vtbl on
8109 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8110 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8111 @cindex VTBL display
8112 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8113 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8114 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8116 @item set print vtbl off
8117 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8119 @item show print vtbl
8120 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8123 @node Pretty Printing
8124 @section Pretty Printing
8126 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8127 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8128 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8131 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8132 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8133 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8136 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8137 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8139 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8140 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8141 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8143 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8144 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8145 pretty-printers with their names.
8146 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8147 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8148 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8149 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8151 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8152 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8153 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8154 do anything special.
8156 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
8160 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
8164 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
8165 when debugging that program.
8166 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
8169 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
8170 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
8171 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
8174 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
8175 pretty-printers are selected,
8177 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
8180 @node Pretty-Printer Example
8181 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
8183 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
8186 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8188 static npos = 4294967295,
8190 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8191 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8192 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8194 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8195 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8196 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8201 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8204 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8208 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
8209 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
8210 @cindex pretty-printer commands
8213 @kindex info pretty-printer
8214 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8215 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
8216 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
8218 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
8219 whose pretty-printers to list.
8220 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
8221 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
8222 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
8223 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
8224 looks up a printer from these three objects.
8226 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
8229 @kindex disable pretty-printer
8230 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8231 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8232 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
8234 @kindex enable pretty-printer
8235 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8236 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8241 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
8242 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
8243 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
8244 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
8247 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8254 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8259 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
8261 2 of 3 printers enabled
8262 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8269 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
8271 1 of 3 printers enabled
8272 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8279 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
8281 0 of 3 printers enabled
8282 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8291 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
8292 as can each individual subprinter.
8295 @section Value History
8297 @cindex value history
8298 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8299 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8300 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8301 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8302 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8303 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8304 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8309 @cindex history number
8310 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8311 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8312 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8313 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8316 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8317 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8318 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8319 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8320 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8321 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8322 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8324 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8325 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8331 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8332 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8339 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8340 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8342 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8343 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8351 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8352 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8357 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8358 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8359 values} does not change the history.
8361 @item show values @var{n}
8362 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8365 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8366 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8369 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8370 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8372 @node Convenience Vars
8373 @section Convenience Variables
8375 @cindex convenience variables
8376 @cindex user-defined variables
8377 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8378 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8379 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8380 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8381 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8383 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8384 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8385 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8386 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8387 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8389 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8390 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8394 set $foo = *object_ptr
8398 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8401 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8402 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8403 value with another assignment at any time.
8405 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8406 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8407 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8408 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8411 @kindex show convenience
8412 @cindex show all user variables
8413 @item show convenience
8414 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8415 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8417 @kindex init-if-undefined
8418 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
8419 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8420 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8421 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8422 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8423 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8424 override default values used in a command script.
8426 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8427 any side-effects do not occur.
8430 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8431 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8432 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8436 print bar[$i++]->contents
8440 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8442 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8443 values likely to be useful.
8446 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8448 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8449 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8450 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8451 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8452 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8453 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8454 to the type of @code{$__}.
8456 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8458 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8459 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8460 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8463 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8464 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8465 the program being debugged terminates.
8468 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
8469 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
8470 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
8471 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
8472 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
8475 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8476 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8477 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8478 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8479 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8482 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8483 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8484 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8485 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8486 @xref{General Query Packets}.
8487 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8491 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8492 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8493 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8495 @cindex convenience functions
8496 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8497 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8498 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8499 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8504 @kindex help function
8505 @cindex show all convenience functions
8506 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8513 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8514 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8515 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8519 @kindex info registers
8520 @item info registers
8521 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8522 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8524 @kindex info all-registers
8525 @cindex floating point registers
8526 @item info all-registers
8527 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8528 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8530 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8531 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8532 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8533 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8534 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8537 @cindex stack pointer register
8538 @cindex program counter register
8539 @cindex process status register
8540 @cindex frame pointer register
8541 @cindex standard registers
8542 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8543 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8544 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8545 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8546 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8547 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8548 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8549 you could print the program counter in hex with
8556 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8563 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8564 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8565 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8566 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8567 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8568 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8569 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8575 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8576 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8577 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8578 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8579 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8580 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8581 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8583 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8584 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8585 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8586 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8587 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8588 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8589 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8591 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8592 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8593 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8594 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8595 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8596 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8597 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8598 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8599 prints the data in both formats.
8601 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8602 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8603 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8604 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8605 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8606 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8607 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8610 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8612 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8613 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8614 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8615 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8616 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8617 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8618 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8623 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8624 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8625 value to a @code{struct} member:
8628 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8631 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8632 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8633 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8634 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8635 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8636 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8638 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8639 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8640 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8641 frame makes no difference.
8643 @node Floating Point Hardware
8644 @section Floating Point Hardware
8645 @cindex floating point
8647 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8648 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8653 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8654 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8655 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8656 the ARM and x86 machines.
8660 @section Vector Unit
8663 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8664 more information about the status of the vector unit.
8669 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8670 layout vary depending on the hardware.
8673 @node OS Information
8674 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8675 @cindex OS information
8677 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8678 you debug your program.
8680 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8681 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
8682 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8683 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8684 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8685 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8686 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8692 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8693 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8694 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
8695 the @code{examine} command.
8698 @cindex auxiliary vector
8699 @cindex vector, auxiliary
8700 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
8701 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
8702 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
8703 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
8704 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
8705 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
8706 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
8707 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
8708 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
8709 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
8710 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
8715 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
8716 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
8717 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
8718 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
8719 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
8720 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
8721 an unrecognized tag.
8724 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
8725 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
8726 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
8727 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
8732 List the types of OS information available for the target. If the
8733 target does not return a list of possible types, this command will
8736 @kindex info os processes
8737 @item info os processes
8738 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
8739 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
8740 the command corresponding to the process.
8743 @node Memory Region Attributes
8744 @section Memory Region Attributes
8745 @cindex memory region attributes
8747 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
8748 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
8749 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
8750 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
8751 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
8752 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
8753 user can override the fetched regions.
8755 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
8756 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
8757 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
8758 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
8761 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
8762 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
8766 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
8767 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
8768 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
8769 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
8770 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
8771 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
8774 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
8775 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
8778 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8779 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
8780 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
8783 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8784 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8785 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
8786 It may be enabled again later.
8789 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8790 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8794 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
8798 @item Memory Region Number
8799 @item Enabled or Disabled.
8800 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
8801 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
8804 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
8807 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
8810 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
8815 @subsection Attributes
8817 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
8818 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
8819 write accesses to a memory region.
8821 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
8822 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
8823 etc.@: from accessing memory.
8827 Memory is read only.
8829 Memory is write only.
8831 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8834 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
8835 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8836 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8837 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8838 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8842 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8844 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8846 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8848 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8851 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8852 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8853 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8854 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8858 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
8859 @c @item swbreak (default)
8862 @subsubsection Data Cache
8863 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8864 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8865 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8866 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8871 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8873 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8876 @subsection Memory Access Checking
8877 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8878 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8879 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8880 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8883 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8884 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8885 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8886 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8887 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8888 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8889 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8890 The default value is @code{on}.
8891 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8892 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8893 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8897 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8898 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8899 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8903 @c @item noverify (default)
8906 @node Dump/Restore Files
8907 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
8908 @cindex dump/restore files
8909 @cindex append data to a file
8910 @cindex dump data to a file
8911 @cindex restore data from a file
8913 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8914 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8915 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8916 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8917 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8918 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8924 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8925 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8926 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8927 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8929 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8936 Motorola S-record format.
8938 Tektronix Hex format.
8941 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8942 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8943 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8947 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8948 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8949 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8950 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8951 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8954 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8955 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8956 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8957 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8958 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8960 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8961 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8962 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
8963 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
8966 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
8967 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
8968 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
8969 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
8973 @node Core File Generation
8974 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
8975 @cindex dump core from inferior
8977 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
8978 image of a running process and its process status (register values
8979 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
8980 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
8981 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
8982 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
8983 the post-mortem debugging mode.
8985 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
8986 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
8987 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
8991 @kindex generate-core-file
8992 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
8993 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
8994 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
8995 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
8996 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
8997 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
8999 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
9000 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
9003 @node Character Sets
9004 @section Character Sets
9005 @cindex character sets
9007 @cindex translating between character sets
9008 @cindex host character set
9009 @cindex target character set
9011 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
9012 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
9013 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
9014 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
9015 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
9016 @dfn{target character set}.
9018 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9019 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9020 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9021 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9022 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9023 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9024 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9025 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9026 character and string literals in expressions.
9028 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
9029 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
9030 target-charset} command, described below.
9032 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
9036 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
9037 @kindex set target-charset
9038 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
9039 list of supported target character sets, type
9040 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9042 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
9043 @kindex set host-charset
9044 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
9046 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
9047 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
9048 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
9049 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
9050 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
9052 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
9053 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9054 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
9056 @item set charset @var{charset}
9058 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
9059 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9060 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
9061 for both host and target.
9064 @kindex show charset
9065 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
9067 @item show host-charset
9068 @kindex show host-charset
9069 Show the name of the current host character set.
9071 @item show target-charset
9072 @kindex show target-charset
9073 Show the name of the current target character set.
9075 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
9076 @kindex set target-wide-charset
9077 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
9078 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
9079 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
9080 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9082 @item show target-wide-charset
9083 @kindex show target-wide-charset
9084 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
9087 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
9088 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
9089 @file{charset-test.c}:
9095 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
9096 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
9097 char ibm1047_hello[]
9098 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
9099 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
9103 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9107 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
9108 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
9109 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
9111 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
9114 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
9115 $ gdb -nw charset-test
9116 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
9117 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9122 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
9123 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
9127 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9128 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
9132 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
9133 initial character set:
9135 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
9136 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9137 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
9141 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
9142 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
9143 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
9144 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
9145 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
9148 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9149 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
9150 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9155 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
9156 literals you use in expressions:
9159 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9164 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
9167 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
9168 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
9169 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
9172 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9173 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
9174 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9179 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
9180 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
9183 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9184 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
9185 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9188 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
9189 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
9190 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
9191 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
9192 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
9195 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
9196 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9197 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
9198 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
9199 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9200 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
9201 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9203 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9204 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
9205 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9210 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
9211 string literals you use in expressions:
9214 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9219 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9222 @node Caching Remote Data
9223 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9224 @cindex caching data of remote targets
9226 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
9227 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
9228 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
9229 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
9230 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
9231 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
9232 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
9233 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
9234 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
9235 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
9236 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
9237 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
9238 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
9239 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
9240 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
9243 @kindex set remotecache
9244 @item set remotecache on
9245 @itemx set remotecache off
9246 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9249 @kindex show remotecache
9250 @item show remotecache
9251 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9253 @kindex set stack-cache
9254 @item set stack-cache on
9255 @itemx set stack-cache off
9256 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9257 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9259 @kindex show stack-cache
9260 @item show stack-cache
9261 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9264 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9265 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9266 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9267 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9268 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9271 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9275 @node Searching Memory
9276 @section Search Memory
9277 @cindex searching memory
9279 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9280 @code{find} command.
9284 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9285 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9286 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9287 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9288 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9291 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9292 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9295 @item @var{s}, search query size
9296 The size of each search query value.
9302 halfwords (two bytes)
9306 giant words (eight bytes)
9309 All values are interpreted in the current language.
9310 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9311 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9313 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9314 value's type in the current language.
9315 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9316 pattern as a mixture of types.
9317 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9318 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9319 which is typically four bytes.
9321 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9322 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9325 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9327 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9328 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9330 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9331 number of matches found.
9333 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9335 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9337 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9343 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9344 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9345 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9346 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9347 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9352 you get during debugging:
9355 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
9356 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9358 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
9359 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9360 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9362 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
9363 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9365 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
9366 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
9368 (gdb) print $numfound
9371 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9374 @node Optimized Code
9375 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9376 @cindex optimized code, debugging
9377 @cindex debugging optimized code
9379 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9380 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9381 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9382 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9383 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9384 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9385 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9387 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9388 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9389 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9390 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9392 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9393 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9394 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9395 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9396 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9397 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9399 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9400 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9401 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9402 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9403 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9406 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9409 @node Inline Functions
9410 @section Inline Functions
9411 @cindex inline functions, debugging
9413 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9414 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9415 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9416 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9417 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9418 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9419 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9420 @code{info frame} command.
9422 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9423 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9424 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9425 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9426 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9427 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9428 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9429 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9430 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9431 local variables in the caller.
9433 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9434 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9435 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9436 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9437 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9438 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9439 instructions are executed.
9441 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9442 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9443 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9444 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9446 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9447 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9451 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9452 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9453 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9454 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9455 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9459 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9460 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9461 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9462 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9463 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9464 or inside the inlined function instead.
9467 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9468 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9469 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9470 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9476 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9478 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9479 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9480 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9481 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9482 where it was defined.
9484 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9485 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9486 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9487 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9489 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9490 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9491 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9492 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9493 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9494 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9497 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9498 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9499 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9503 @kindex macro expand
9504 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9505 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9506 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9507 @item macro expand @var{expression}
9508 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9509 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9510 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9511 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9512 it can be any string of tokens.
9515 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
9516 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
9517 @cindex expand macro once
9518 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
9519 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
9520 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
9521 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
9522 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
9523 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
9524 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
9525 can be any string of tokens.
9528 @cindex macro definition, showing
9529 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
9530 @item info macro @var{macro}
9531 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
9532 source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
9534 @kindex macro define
9535 @cindex user-defined macros
9536 @cindex defining macros interactively
9537 @cindex macros, user-defined
9538 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
9539 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
9540 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
9541 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
9542 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
9543 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
9544 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
9547 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
9548 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
9549 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
9550 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
9551 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
9554 @item macro undef @var{macro}
9555 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
9556 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
9557 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
9558 in the program being debugged.
9562 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
9565 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
9566 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
9567 show our source files:
9575 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9580 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9582 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9584 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9591 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
9592 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
9593 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
9597 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
9601 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
9605 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
9606 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9607 GDB is free software, @dots{}
9611 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
9612 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
9613 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
9616 (@value{GDBP}) list main
9619 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9624 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9626 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9627 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
9628 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
9629 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9630 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
9631 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
9632 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
9634 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
9635 expands to: (42 + 1)
9636 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
9637 expands to: once (M + 1)
9641 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
9642 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
9643 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
9644 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
9646 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
9647 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
9650 (@value{GDBP}) break main
9651 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
9653 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
9655 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
9656 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9660 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
9663 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9664 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
9666 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9668 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9673 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
9674 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
9675 thereof) in force at each point:
9680 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9681 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9682 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
9683 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
9686 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9687 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9688 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
9690 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9691 expands to: 1729 < 42
9692 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9697 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
9698 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
9699 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
9700 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
9703 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
9704 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
9711 @chapter Tracepoints
9712 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
9713 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
9716 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
9717 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
9718 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
9719 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
9720 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
9721 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
9722 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
9724 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
9725 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
9726 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
9727 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
9728 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
9729 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
9730 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
9731 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
9732 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
9733 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
9734 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
9736 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
9737 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
9738 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
9739 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
9740 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
9741 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
9744 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
9745 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
9746 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
9748 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
9752 * Analyze Collected Data::
9753 * Tracepoint Variables::
9757 @node Set Tracepoints
9758 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
9760 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
9761 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
9762 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
9763 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
9764 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
9765 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
9766 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
9768 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
9769 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
9770 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
9771 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
9772 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
9775 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
9776 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
9777 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
9780 @cindex fast tracepoints
9781 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
9782 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
9783 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
9785 @cindex static tracepoints
9786 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
9787 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
9788 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
9789 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
9790 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
9791 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
9792 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
9793 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
9794 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
9795 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
9796 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
9797 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
9798 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
9799 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namelly, support for collecting
9800 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
9801 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
9802 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
9803 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
9804 static tracepoint marker.
9806 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
9807 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
9809 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
9810 conditions and actions.
9813 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
9814 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
9815 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
9816 * Tracepoint Conditions::
9817 * Trace State Variables::
9818 * Tracepoint Actions::
9819 * Listing Tracepoints::
9820 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
9821 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
9822 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
9825 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
9826 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
9829 @cindex set tracepoint
9831 @item trace @var{location}
9832 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
9833 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
9834 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
9835 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
9836 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
9837 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
9838 changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
9839 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
9840 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
9842 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
9845 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
9847 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
9849 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
9851 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
9853 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
9857 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
9859 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
9860 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
9861 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
9862 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
9863 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
9864 information on tracepoint conditions.
9866 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9867 @cindex set fast tracepoint
9868 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
9870 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
9871 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
9872 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
9873 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
9874 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
9875 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
9878 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
9881 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9882 @cindex set static tracepoint
9883 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
9884 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
9886 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
9887 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
9888 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
9889 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
9890 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
9892 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
9893 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
9894 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
9895 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
9896 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
9897 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
9898 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
9899 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
9900 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
9906 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
9911 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
9912 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
9915 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
9916 Cnt Enb ID Address What
9917 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
9923 so you may probe the marker above with:
9926 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
9929 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
9930 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
9931 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
9932 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
9933 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
9934 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
9935 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
9936 the @samp{Data:} field.
9938 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
9939 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
9940 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
9943 @cindex last tracepoint number
9944 @cindex recent tracepoint number
9945 @cindex tracepoint number
9946 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
9947 of the most recently set tracepoint.
9949 @kindex delete tracepoint
9950 @cindex tracepoint deletion
9951 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9952 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
9953 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
9954 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
9959 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9961 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9965 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
9968 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9969 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9971 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
9974 @kindex disable tracepoint
9975 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9976 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
9977 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
9978 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
9979 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
9981 @kindex enable tracepoint
9982 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9983 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
9984 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
9988 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
9989 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
9993 @cindex tracepoint pass count
9994 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
9995 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
9996 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
9997 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
9998 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
9999 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
10000 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
10001 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
10007 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
10008 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
10010 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
10011 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
10012 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10013 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
10014 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
10015 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
10016 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
10017 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
10018 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
10019 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
10020 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
10024 @node Tracepoint Conditions
10025 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
10026 @cindex conditional tracepoints
10027 @cindex tracepoint conditions
10029 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
10030 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
10031 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
10032 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
10033 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
10034 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
10037 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
10038 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
10039 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
10040 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
10041 just as with breakpoints.
10043 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
10044 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
10045 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions}
10046 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
10047 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
10048 accesses, and so forth.
10050 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
10051 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
10052 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
10053 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
10054 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
10055 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
10059 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
10062 @node Trace State Variables
10063 @subsection Trace State Variables
10064 @cindex trace state variables
10066 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
10067 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
10068 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
10069 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
10070 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
10073 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
10074 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
10075 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
10076 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
10078 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
10079 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
10080 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
10081 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
10082 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
10083 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
10084 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
10085 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
10086 variable with the same name.
10090 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
10092 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
10093 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
10094 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
10095 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
10096 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
10097 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
10098 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
10099 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
10100 value. The default initial value is 0.
10102 @item info tvariables
10103 @kindex info tvariables
10104 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
10105 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
10108 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
10109 @kindex delete tvariable
10110 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
10115 @node Tracepoint Actions
10116 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
10120 @cindex tracepoint actions
10121 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10122 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
10123 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
10124 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
10125 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
10126 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
10127 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
10128 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
10129 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
10130 @code{while-stepping}.
10132 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
10133 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
10134 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
10136 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
10137 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
10138 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
10141 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
10143 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
10145 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
10148 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
10149 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
10150 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
10151 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
10152 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
10153 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
10154 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
10155 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
10158 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10159 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10160 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
10163 > while-stepping 12
10164 > collect $pc, arr[i]
10169 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
10170 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10171 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
10172 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
10173 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
10174 special arguments are supported:
10178 Collect all registers.
10181 Collect all function arguments.
10184 Collect all local variables.
10187 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
10188 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
10189 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
10190 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
10191 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
10192 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
10193 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
10194 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
10195 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
10198 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
10199 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
10202 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
10203 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
10204 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
10208 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
10209 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
10210 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
10212 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
10213 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
10215 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
10216 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10217 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
10218 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
10219 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
10220 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
10221 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
10224 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
10225 @item while-stepping @var{n}
10226 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
10227 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
10228 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
10229 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
10232 > while-stepping 12
10233 > collect $regs, myglobal
10239 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
10240 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
10241 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
10244 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10245 @kindex set default-collect
10246 @cindex default collection action
10247 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
10248 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
10249 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
10250 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
10251 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
10252 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
10254 @item show default-collect
10255 @kindex show default-collect
10256 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
10261 @node Listing Tracepoints
10262 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
10265 @kindex info tracepoints
10267 @cindex information about tracepoints
10268 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10269 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
10270 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
10271 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
10272 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
10273 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
10275 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
10280 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
10284 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
10285 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
10286 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
10288 collect globfoo, $regs
10297 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
10300 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10301 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10304 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
10305 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
10306 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
10307 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
10310 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
10314 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
10317 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
10318 @item Enabled or Disabled
10319 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
10320 that are not enabled.
10322 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
10324 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
10325 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
10326 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
10327 will be left blank.
10331 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
10335 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
10336 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
10338 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
10339 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
10343 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10344 Cnt ID Enb Address What
10345 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
10346 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
10347 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
10348 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
10354 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10355 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10359 @cindex start a new trace experiment
10360 @cindex collected data discarded
10362 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
10363 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
10364 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
10368 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
10370 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
10371 stops collecting data.
10373 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
10374 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
10375 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
10378 @cindex status of trace data collection
10379 @cindex trace experiment, status of
10381 This command displays the status of the current trace data
10385 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
10388 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
10389 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10390 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
10391 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
10392 > while-stepping 11
10396 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10397 [time passes @dots{}]
10398 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
10401 @cindex disconnected tracing
10402 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
10403 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
10404 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
10405 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
10406 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
10407 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
10408 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
10409 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
10412 @item set disconnected-tracing on
10413 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
10414 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
10415 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
10416 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
10417 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
10418 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
10419 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
10421 @item show disconnected-tracing
10422 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
10423 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
10427 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
10428 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
10429 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
10430 it will continue after reconnection.
10432 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
10433 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
10434 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
10435 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
10436 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
10437 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
10438 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
10439 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
10440 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
10441 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
10443 @cindex circular trace buffer
10444 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
10445 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
10446 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
10447 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
10448 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
10449 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
10450 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
10451 @samp{circular_trace_buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
10452 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
10453 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
10457 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
10458 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
10459 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
10460 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
10461 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
10462 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
10463 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
10465 @item show circular-trace-buffer
10466 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
10467 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
10468 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
10469 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
10470 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
10474 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
10475 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
10477 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
10478 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
10479 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
10480 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
10481 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
10482 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
10483 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
10484 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
10490 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
10491 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
10492 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
10493 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
10494 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
10495 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
10496 cannot be collected either.
10499 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
10500 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
10501 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
10502 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
10503 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
10504 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
10505 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
10506 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
10507 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
10508 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
10511 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
10512 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
10513 in a misleading way.
10516 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
10517 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
10518 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
10519 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
10520 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
10521 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
10522 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
10526 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
10527 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
10528 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*$esp@@300}
10529 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
10530 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
10531 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
10532 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
10533 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
10534 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
10535 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
10539 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
10540 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
10541 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
10542 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
10543 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
10544 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
10545 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
10550 @node Analyze Collected Data
10551 @section Using the Collected Data
10553 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
10554 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
10555 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
10556 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
10557 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
10558 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
10559 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
10560 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
10561 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
10562 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
10563 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
10564 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
10565 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
10566 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
10567 the buffer will fail.
10570 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
10571 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
10572 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
10576 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
10579 @cindex select trace snapshot
10580 @cindex find trace snapshot
10581 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
10582 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
10583 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
10584 snapshot is selected.
10586 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
10590 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
10591 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
10594 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
10597 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
10600 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
10603 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
10604 retracing earlier steps.
10606 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
10607 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
10608 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
10609 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
10610 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
10612 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
10613 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
10614 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
10615 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
10616 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
10618 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10619 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
10620 addresses (exclusive).
10622 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10623 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
10624 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
10626 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
10627 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
10628 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
10629 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
10630 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
10631 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
10632 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
10633 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
10636 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
10637 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
10638 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
10639 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
10640 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
10641 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
10642 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
10643 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
10644 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
10645 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
10646 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
10647 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
10648 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
10649 tracepoint as the current one.
10651 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
10652 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
10653 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
10654 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
10655 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
10658 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10659 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10660 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
10661 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
10665 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
10666 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
10667 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
10668 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
10669 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
10670 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
10671 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
10672 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
10673 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
10674 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
10675 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
10678 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
10682 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10683 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10684 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
10694 @subsection @code{tdump}
10696 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
10697 @cindex tracepoint data, display
10699 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
10700 the current trace snapshot.
10703 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
10704 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10705 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
10706 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
10709 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10711 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
10712 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
10714 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
10716 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
10717 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
10718 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
10722 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
10725 d7 0x380035 3670069
10726 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
10727 a1 0x3000668 50333288
10729 a3 0x322000 3284992
10730 a4 0x3000698 50333336
10731 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
10732 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
10733 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
10735 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
10739 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
10746 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
10751 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
10752 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
10753 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
10754 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
10756 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
10757 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
10758 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
10759 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
10760 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
10761 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
10762 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
10763 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
10764 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
10765 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
10767 @node save tracepoints
10768 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
10769 @kindex save tracepoints
10770 @kindex save-tracepoints
10771 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
10773 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
10774 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
10775 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
10776 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
10777 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
10778 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
10780 @node Tracepoint Variables
10781 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
10782 @cindex tracepoint variables
10783 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
10786 @vindex $trace_frame
10787 @item (int) $trace_frame
10788 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
10789 snapshot is selected.
10791 @vindex $tracepoint
10792 @item (int) $tracepoint
10793 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
10795 @vindex $trace_line
10796 @item (int) $trace_line
10797 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
10799 @vindex $trace_file
10800 @item (char []) $trace_file
10801 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
10803 @vindex $trace_func
10804 @item (char []) $trace_func
10805 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
10808 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
10809 use @code{output} instead.
10811 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
10812 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
10813 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
10814 which are managed by the target.
10817 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10819 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
10820 > output $trace_file
10821 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
10827 @section Using Trace Files
10828 @cindex trace files
10830 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
10831 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
10832 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
10833 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
10834 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
10839 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
10840 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
10841 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
10842 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
10843 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
10844 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
10845 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
10846 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
10847 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
10849 @kindex target tfile
10851 @item target tfile @var{filename}
10852 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
10853 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
10854 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
10855 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
10856 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
10857 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
10862 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
10865 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
10866 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
10867 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
10871 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
10872 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
10873 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
10874 mapped by asking the inferior.
10875 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
10878 @node How Overlays Work
10879 @section How Overlays Work
10880 @cindex mapped overlays
10881 @cindex unmapped overlays
10882 @cindex load address, overlay's
10883 @cindex mapped address
10884 @cindex overlay area
10886 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
10887 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
10888 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
10889 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
10890 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
10892 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
10893 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
10894 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
10895 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
10896 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
10897 largest overlay as well.
10899 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
10900 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
10901 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
10904 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
10905 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
10906 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
10910 Data Instruction Larger
10911 Address Space Address Space Address Space
10912 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
10914 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
10915 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
10916 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
10917 | and heap | | | | | |
10918 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
10919 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
10920 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
10922 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
10923 address | | | | | |
10924 | overlay | <-' | | |
10925 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
10926 | | <---. | | load address
10927 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
10934 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
10938 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
10939 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
10940 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
10941 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
10942 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
10943 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
10944 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
10945 program and the overlay area.
10947 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
10948 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
10949 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
10950 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
10951 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
10952 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
10953 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
10955 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
10956 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
10957 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
10962 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
10963 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
10964 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
10965 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
10968 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
10969 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
10970 your program's performance.
10973 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
10974 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
10975 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
10976 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
10977 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
10978 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
10979 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
10982 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
10983 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
10984 instruction and data spaces.
10988 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
10989 improved in many ways:
10994 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
10995 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
10996 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
10997 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
10998 area in the usual way.
11001 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
11002 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
11005 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
11006 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
11007 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
11008 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
11009 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
11010 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
11011 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
11016 @node Overlay Commands
11017 @section Overlay Commands
11019 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
11020 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
11021 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
11022 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
11023 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
11024 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
11026 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
11027 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
11032 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
11033 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
11034 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
11035 overlay support is disabled.
11037 @item overlay manual
11038 @cindex manual overlay debugging
11039 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11040 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
11041 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
11042 commands described below.
11044 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
11045 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
11046 @cindex map an overlay
11047 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
11048 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
11049 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
11050 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
11051 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
11052 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
11054 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
11055 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
11056 @cindex unmap an overlay
11057 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
11058 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
11059 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
11060 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
11063 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11064 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
11065 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
11066 Overlay Debugging}.
11068 @item overlay load-target
11069 @itemx overlay load
11070 @cindex reloading the overlay table
11071 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
11072 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
11073 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
11074 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
11075 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
11077 @item overlay list-overlays
11078 @itemx overlay list
11079 @cindex listing mapped overlays
11080 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
11081 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
11085 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
11086 of the function the address falls in:
11089 (@value{GDBP}) print main
11090 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
11093 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
11094 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
11095 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
11096 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
11099 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11100 No sections are mapped.
11101 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11102 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
11105 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
11109 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11110 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
11111 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
11112 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11113 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
11116 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
11117 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
11118 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
11119 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
11120 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
11124 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
11125 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
11126 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
11127 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
11129 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
11130 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
11131 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
11132 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
11133 breakpoints properly.
11137 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
11138 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
11139 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
11141 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
11142 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
11143 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
11144 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
11145 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
11146 current state of the overlays.
11148 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
11149 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
11153 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
11154 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
11159 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
11162 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
11163 unsigned long size;
11165 /* The overlay's load address. */
11168 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
11170 unsigned long mapped;
11174 @item @code{_novlys}:
11175 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
11176 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
11180 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
11181 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
11182 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
11183 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
11184 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
11187 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
11188 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
11189 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
11190 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
11191 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
11192 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
11193 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
11194 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
11195 are not being executed.
11197 @node Overlay Sample Program
11198 @section Overlay Sample Program
11199 @cindex overlay example program
11201 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
11202 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
11203 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
11204 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
11205 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
11206 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
11207 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
11209 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
11210 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
11211 suite. The program consists of the following files from
11212 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
11216 The main program file.
11218 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
11223 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
11226 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
11227 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
11230 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
11231 cross-compiler like this:
11234 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
11235 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
11236 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
11237 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
11238 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
11239 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
11240 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
11241 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
11244 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
11245 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
11246 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
11250 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
11253 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
11254 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
11255 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
11256 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
11257 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
11258 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
11260 @cindex working language
11261 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
11262 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
11263 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
11264 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
11265 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
11269 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
11270 * Show:: Displaying the language
11271 * Checks:: Type and range checks
11272 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
11273 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
11277 @section Switching Between Source Languages
11279 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
11280 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
11281 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
11282 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
11283 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
11286 In addition to the working language, every source file that
11287 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
11288 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
11289 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
11290 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
11291 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
11292 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
11293 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
11294 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
11295 Displaying the Language}.
11297 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
11298 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
11299 another language. In that case, make the
11300 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
11301 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
11302 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
11305 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
11306 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
11307 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
11311 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
11313 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
11314 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
11332 C@t{++} source file
11338 Objective-C source file
11342 Fortran source file
11345 Modula-2 source file
11349 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
11350 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
11353 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
11354 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
11357 @subsection Setting the Working Language
11359 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
11360 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
11363 @kindex set language
11364 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
11365 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
11366 a language, such as
11367 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
11368 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
11370 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
11371 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
11372 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
11373 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
11374 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
11375 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
11383 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
11384 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
11385 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
11386 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
11388 @node Automatically
11389 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
11391 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
11392 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
11393 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
11394 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
11395 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
11396 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
11397 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
11398 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
11399 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
11401 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
11402 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
11403 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
11404 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
11405 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
11408 @section Displaying the Language
11410 The following commands help you find out which language is the
11411 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
11414 @item show language
11415 @kindex show language
11416 Display the current working language. This is the
11417 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
11418 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
11421 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
11422 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
11423 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
11424 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
11425 information listed here.
11428 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
11429 Display the source language of this source file.
11430 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
11431 information listed here.
11434 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
11435 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
11436 with a language explicitly:
11439 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
11440 @kindex set extension-language
11441 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
11442 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
11444 @item info extensions
11445 @kindex info extensions
11446 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
11450 @section Type and Range Checking
11453 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
11454 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
11455 section documents the intended facilities.
11457 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
11459 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
11460 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
11461 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
11462 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
11463 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
11464 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
11465 errors when your program is running.
11467 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
11468 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
11469 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
11470 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
11471 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
11472 automatically based on your program's source language.
11473 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
11474 settings of supported languages.
11477 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
11478 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
11481 @cindex type checking
11482 @cindex checks, type
11483 @node Type Checking
11484 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
11486 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
11487 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
11488 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
11489 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
11497 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
11498 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
11500 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
11501 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
11502 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
11503 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
11504 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
11505 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
11506 also issues a warning.
11508 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
11509 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
11510 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
11511 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
11512 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
11513 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
11515 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
11516 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
11517 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
11518 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
11519 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
11520 details on specific languages.
11522 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
11524 @kindex set check type
11525 @kindex show check type
11527 @item set check type auto
11528 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
11529 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11532 @item set check type on
11533 @itemx set check type off
11534 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11535 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
11536 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
11537 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
11538 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
11540 @item set check type warn
11541 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
11542 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
11543 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
11544 numbers and structures.
11547 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
11548 is setting it automatically.
11551 @cindex range checking
11552 @cindex checks, range
11553 @node Range Checking
11554 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
11556 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
11557 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
11558 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
11559 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
11560 not exceed the bounds of the array.
11562 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
11563 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
11564 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
11565 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
11567 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
11568 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
11569 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
11570 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
11571 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
11572 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
11575 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
11578 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
11579 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
11580 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
11582 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
11584 @kindex set check range
11585 @kindex show check range
11587 @item set check range auto
11588 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
11589 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11592 @item set check range on
11593 @itemx set check range off
11594 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11595 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
11596 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
11597 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
11599 @item set check range warn
11600 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
11601 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
11602 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
11603 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
11607 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
11608 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
11611 @node Supported Languages
11612 @section Supported Languages
11614 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, OpenCL C, Pascal,
11615 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
11616 @c This is false ...
11617 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
11618 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
11619 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
11620 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
11623 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
11624 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
11625 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
11626 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
11627 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
11628 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
11629 language reference or tutorial.
11632 * C:: C and C@t{++}
11634 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
11635 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
11636 * Fortran:: Fortran
11638 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
11643 @subsection C and C@t{++}
11645 @cindex C and C@t{++}
11646 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
11648 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
11649 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
11653 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
11654 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
11655 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
11656 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
11657 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
11658 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
11659 compiler (@code{aCC}).
11661 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
11662 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
11663 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
11664 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
11665 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
11666 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
11669 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
11670 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
11671 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
11672 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
11673 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
11674 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
11675 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
11676 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
11680 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
11682 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
11684 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11685 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11686 often defined on groups of types.
11688 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
11693 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
11694 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
11697 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
11698 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
11701 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
11704 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
11709 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
11710 in order of increasing precedence:
11714 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
11715 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
11716 expression being the last expression evaluated.
11719 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
11720 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
11723 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
11724 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
11725 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
11726 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
11727 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
11730 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
11731 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
11735 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11738 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11741 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11744 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11747 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11750 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
11751 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
11753 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
11754 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
11755 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
11756 and non-zero for true.
11759 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
11762 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11765 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
11768 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
11769 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
11770 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
11774 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
11775 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
11776 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
11777 operation takes place.
11780 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
11784 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
11786 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
11787 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
11788 to examine the address
11789 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
11793 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
11794 precedence as @code{++}.
11797 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11801 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11806 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
11807 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
11808 pointer based on the stored type information.
11809 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
11812 Dereferences of pointers to members.
11815 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
11816 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11819 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11822 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
11823 and @code{class} types.
11826 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
11827 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
11831 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
11832 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
11833 predefined meaning.
11836 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
11838 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
11840 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
11845 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
11846 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
11847 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
11848 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
11852 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
11853 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
11854 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
11855 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
11856 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
11857 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
11858 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
11859 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
11860 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
11864 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
11865 integral equivalents.
11868 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
11869 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
11870 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
11871 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
11872 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
11873 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
11874 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
11875 @samp{\n} for newline.
11878 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
11879 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
11880 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
11881 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
11885 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
11886 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
11889 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
11890 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
11891 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
11892 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
11895 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
11896 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
11898 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
11899 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
11901 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
11902 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
11903 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
11904 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
11906 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
11907 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
11908 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
11909 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
11910 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
11911 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
11912 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
11913 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
11914 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
11920 @cindex member functions
11922 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
11925 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
11928 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
11929 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
11931 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
11932 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
11933 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
11934 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
11936 @cindex call overloaded functions
11937 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
11938 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
11940 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
11941 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
11942 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
11943 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
11944 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
11947 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
11948 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
11949 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
11950 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
11951 number of function arguments.
11953 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
11954 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
11955 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
11957 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
11958 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
11960 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
11963 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
11964 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
11966 @cindex reference declarations
11968 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
11969 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
11972 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
11973 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
11974 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
11975 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
11976 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
11979 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
11980 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
11981 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
11982 necessary, for example in an expression like
11983 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
11984 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
11985 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
11988 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
11989 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
11990 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
11991 invoking user-defined operators.
11994 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
11996 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
11998 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
11999 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
12000 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12001 selects the working language.
12003 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
12004 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
12005 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
12006 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
12007 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
12008 for further details.
12010 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
12011 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
12012 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
12015 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
12017 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
12019 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
12020 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
12021 considers two variables type equivalent if:
12025 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
12029 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
12030 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
12033 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
12036 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
12037 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
12042 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
12043 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
12044 that is not itself an array.
12047 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
12049 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
12050 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
12051 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
12052 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
12054 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
12055 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
12058 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
12059 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
12061 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
12063 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
12064 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
12067 @cindex break in overloaded functions
12068 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
12069 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
12070 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
12071 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
12072 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
12074 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
12075 @item rbreak @var{regex}
12076 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
12077 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
12079 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
12081 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
12084 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
12085 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
12087 @cindex inheritance
12088 @item ptype @var{typename}
12089 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
12091 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
12093 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
12094 @item set print demangle
12095 @itemx show print demangle
12096 @itemx set print asm-demangle
12097 @itemx show print asm-demangle
12098 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
12099 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
12100 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12102 @item set print object
12103 @itemx show print object
12104 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
12105 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12107 @item set print vtbl
12108 @itemx show print vtbl
12109 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
12110 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12111 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
12112 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
12114 @kindex set overload-resolution
12115 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
12116 @item set overload-resolution on
12117 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
12118 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
12119 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
12120 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
12121 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
12122 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
12124 @item set overload-resolution off
12125 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
12126 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12127 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
12128 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
12129 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12130 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
12133 @kindex show overload-resolution
12134 @item show overload-resolution
12135 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
12137 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
12138 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
12139 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
12140 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
12141 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
12142 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
12143 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
12146 @node Decimal Floating Point
12147 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
12148 @cindex decimal floating point format
12150 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
12151 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
12152 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
12153 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
12155 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
12156 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
12157 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
12160 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
12161 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
12162 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
12164 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
12165 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
12166 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
12168 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
12169 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
12170 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
12176 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
12177 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
12178 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
12181 @subsection Objective-C
12183 @cindex Objective-C
12184 This section provides information about some commands and command
12185 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
12186 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
12187 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
12190 * Method Names in Commands::
12191 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
12194 @node Method Names in Commands
12195 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
12197 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
12198 names as line specifications:
12200 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
12201 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
12202 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
12203 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
12204 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
12208 @item @code{info line}
12213 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
12216 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
12219 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
12220 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
12221 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
12222 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
12223 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
12224 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
12228 break -[Fruit create]
12231 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
12235 list +[NSText initialize]
12238 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
12239 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
12240 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
12241 is also possible to specify just a method name:
12247 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
12248 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
12249 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
12250 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
12253 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
12254 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
12257 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
12260 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
12261 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
12262 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
12263 @kindex print-object
12264 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
12266 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
12269 print -[@var{object} hash]
12272 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
12273 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
12275 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
12276 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
12277 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
12278 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
12279 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
12280 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
12283 @subsection OpenCL C
12286 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
12289 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
12290 * OpenCL C Expressions::
12291 * OpenCL C Operators::
12294 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
12295 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
12297 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
12298 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
12299 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
12300 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
12301 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
12303 @node OpenCL C Expressions
12304 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
12306 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
12307 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
12308 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
12309 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
12311 @node OpenCL C Operators
12312 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
12314 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
12315 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
12319 @subsection Fortran
12320 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
12322 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
12323 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
12325 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
12326 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
12327 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
12328 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
12329 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
12333 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
12334 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
12335 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
12338 @node Fortran Operators
12339 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
12341 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
12343 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12344 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
12345 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
12349 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
12353 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
12354 represent a section of array.
12357 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
12358 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
12359 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
12363 @node Fortran Defaults
12364 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
12366 @cindex Fortran Defaults
12368 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
12369 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
12370 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
12371 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
12373 @node Special Fortran Commands
12374 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
12376 @cindex Special Fortran commands
12378 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
12379 such as displaying common blocks.
12382 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
12383 @kindex info common
12384 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
12385 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
12386 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
12387 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
12394 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
12395 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
12396 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
12397 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
12400 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
12401 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
12402 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
12405 @subsection Modula-2
12407 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
12409 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
12410 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
12411 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
12412 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12413 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
12416 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
12418 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
12419 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
12420 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
12421 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
12422 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
12423 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
12424 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
12425 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12426 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12430 @subsubsection Operators
12431 @cindex Modula-2 operators
12433 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12434 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12435 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
12436 following definitions hold:
12441 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
12445 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
12448 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
12451 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
12455 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
12458 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
12461 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
12465 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
12466 increasing precedence:
12470 Function argument or array index separator.
12473 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
12477 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
12481 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
12482 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
12483 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
12485 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
12486 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
12487 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
12488 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
12492 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
12493 Same precedence as @code{<}.
12496 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12499 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12502 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12505 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
12506 and difference on set types.
12509 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
12513 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
12514 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
12517 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
12518 precedence as @code{*}.
12521 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
12524 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
12527 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
12531 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
12532 precedence as @code{^}.
12535 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
12538 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
12542 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
12546 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
12547 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
12548 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
12549 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
12553 @node Built-In Func/Proc
12554 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
12555 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
12557 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
12558 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
12563 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
12566 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
12569 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
12572 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
12573 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
12574 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
12577 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
12580 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
12586 represents a variable.
12589 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
12590 explanation of the function for details.
12593 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
12597 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
12600 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
12601 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
12604 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12607 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12609 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
12610 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12613 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12614 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
12617 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
12618 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
12620 @item HIGH(@var{a})
12621 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
12624 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12626 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
12627 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12630 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12631 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
12632 there. Returns the new set.
12635 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
12638 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
12641 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
12644 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
12645 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
12646 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
12647 integral, character and enumerated types.
12649 @item SIZE(@var{x})
12650 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12652 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
12653 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
12655 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
12656 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12658 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
12659 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12663 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
12664 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
12668 @cindex Modula-2 constants
12670 @subsubsection Constants
12672 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
12678 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
12679 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
12680 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
12681 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
12684 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
12685 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
12686 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
12687 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
12688 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
12692 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
12693 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
12694 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
12695 followed by a @samp{C}.
12698 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
12699 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
12700 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
12701 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
12705 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
12708 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
12712 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
12715 Set constants are not yet supported.
12719 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
12720 @cindex Modula-2 types
12722 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
12723 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
12724 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
12725 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
12726 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
12727 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
12729 The first example contains the following section of code:
12738 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
12739 @code{r} and @code{s}.
12742 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12744 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12746 (@value{GDBP}) print r
12748 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
12753 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
12757 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
12761 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
12764 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12765 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
12769 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
12770 expressions using the debugger.
12772 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
12773 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
12777 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
12781 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12782 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
12785 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
12786 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
12787 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
12790 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
12794 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
12795 t = [blue..yellow] ;
12803 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
12804 and value of a variable.
12807 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12809 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
12810 type = [blue..yellow]
12814 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
12815 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
12816 their @code{C} counterparts.
12820 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12826 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12827 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
12828 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12829 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12832 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
12833 pointer types as shown in this example:
12837 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12844 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
12847 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12848 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12851 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
12852 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
12863 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
12864 myrange = [-2..2] ;
12866 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
12870 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
12874 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12875 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
12878 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
12883 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
12884 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
12886 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
12887 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
12888 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12889 selected the working language.
12891 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
12892 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
12893 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
12894 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
12897 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
12898 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
12900 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
12901 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
12905 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
12906 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
12907 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
12908 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
12909 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
12910 returned a pointer.)
12913 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
12914 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
12915 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
12916 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
12919 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
12923 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
12927 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
12928 @cindex Modula-2 checks
12931 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
12934 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
12936 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
12940 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
12941 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
12944 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
12945 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
12948 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
12949 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
12951 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
12952 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
12955 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12957 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
12958 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
12960 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
12961 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
12964 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
12967 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
12968 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
12973 @var{module} . @var{id}
12974 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
12978 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
12979 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
12980 identifier within your program, except another module.
12982 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
12983 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
12984 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
12985 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
12987 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
12988 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
12989 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
12990 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
12991 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
12995 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12997 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
12998 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
12999 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
13000 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
13001 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
13002 analogue in Modula-2.
13004 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
13005 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
13006 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
13007 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
13008 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
13009 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
13011 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
13012 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
13013 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
13019 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
13020 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
13021 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
13022 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13026 @cindex expressions in Ada
13028 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
13029 and semantics supported by Ada mode
13031 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
13032 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
13033 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
13034 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
13035 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13036 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
13038 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
13041 @node Ada Mode Intro
13042 @subsubsection Introduction
13043 @cindex Ada mode, general
13045 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
13046 syntax, with some extensions.
13047 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
13051 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
13052 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
13053 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
13054 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
13057 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
13058 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13061 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13064 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
13065 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
13066 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
13067 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
13068 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
13070 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
13071 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
13072 was translated from an Ada source file.
13074 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
13075 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
13076 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
13077 middle (to allow based literals).
13079 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
13080 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
13081 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
13082 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
13083 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
13084 functions to procedures elsewhere.
13086 @node Omissions from Ada
13087 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
13088 @cindex Ada, omissions from
13090 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
13094 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
13098 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
13099 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
13102 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
13105 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
13111 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
13112 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
13115 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
13116 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
13124 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
13125 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
13126 not currently available.
13129 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
13130 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
13131 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
13132 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
13133 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
13134 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
13135 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
13136 indeterminate values.
13139 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
13140 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
13141 are not implemented.
13144 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
13145 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
13146 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
13147 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
13148 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
13151 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
13152 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
13153 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
13154 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
13155 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
13156 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
13160 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
13161 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
13162 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
13163 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
13164 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
13165 declared to have a type such as:
13168 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
13170 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
13174 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
13178 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
13179 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
13182 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
13183 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
13184 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
13185 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
13186 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
13187 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
13188 redundant component associations, although which component values are
13189 assigned in such cases is not defined.
13192 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
13195 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
13196 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
13197 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
13198 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
13199 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
13200 the proper resolution.
13203 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
13206 Entry calls are not implemented.
13209 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
13210 formats are not supported.
13213 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
13216 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
13217 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
13219 Should your program
13220 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
13221 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
13224 @node Additions to Ada
13225 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
13226 @cindex Ada, deviations from
13228 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
13229 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
13233 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
13234 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
13235 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
13236 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
13237 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
13238 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
13239 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
13240 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
13243 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
13244 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
13245 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
13248 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
13249 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
13252 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
13253 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
13256 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
13257 additions specific to Ada:
13261 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
13262 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
13265 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
13266 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
13270 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
13271 the value of its right-hand operand.
13272 This allows, for example,
13273 complex conditional breaks:
13276 (@value{GDBP}) break f
13277 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
13281 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
13282 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
13283 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
13284 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
13285 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
13286 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
13287 in strings. For example,
13289 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
13292 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
13296 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
13297 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
13301 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
13305 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
13306 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
13307 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
13308 of 3 might print as
13315 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
13319 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
13320 multi-character subsequence of
13321 their names (an exact match gets preference).
13322 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
13323 in place of @t{a'length}.
13326 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
13327 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
13328 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
13329 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
13330 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
13331 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
13334 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
13338 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
13339 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
13340 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
13341 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
13346 @node Stopping Before Main Program
13347 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
13349 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
13350 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
13351 before reaching the main procedure.
13352 As defined in the Ada Reference
13353 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
13354 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
13355 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
13356 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
13359 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
13360 @cindex Ada, tasking
13362 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
13363 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
13368 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
13375 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13376 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13377 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13378 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
13379 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
13380 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
13385 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
13386 task currently being inspected.
13390 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
13396 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
13399 The base priority of the task.
13402 Current state of the task.
13406 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
13410 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
13411 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
13414 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
13415 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
13416 terminated themselves.
13418 @item Child Activation Wait
13419 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
13421 @item Accept Statement
13422 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
13424 @item Waiting on entry call
13425 The task is waiting on an entry call.
13427 @item Async Select Wait
13428 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
13432 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
13435 @item Child Termination Wait
13436 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
13437 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
13438 waiting on a terminate Phase.
13440 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
13441 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
13442 finish terminating.
13444 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
13445 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
13449 Name of the task in the program.
13453 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
13454 @item info task @var{taskno}
13455 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
13456 the following example:
13461 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13462 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13463 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13464 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
13465 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
13466 Ada Task: 0x807c468
13469 Parent: 1 (main_task)
13475 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
13476 @cindex current Ada task ID
13477 This command prints the ID of the current task.
13483 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13484 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13485 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13486 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13487 (@value{GDBP}) task
13488 [Current task is 2]
13491 @item task @var{taskno}
13492 @cindex Ada task switching
13493 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
13494 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
13495 from the current task to the given task.
13501 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13502 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13503 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13504 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13505 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
13506 [Switching to task 1]
13507 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13509 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13510 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
13511 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
13512 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
13513 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
13516 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
13517 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
13518 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
13519 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
13520 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
13521 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
13522 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
13523 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
13524 in @ref{Specify Location}.
13526 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
13527 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
13528 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
13529 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
13530 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
13532 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
13533 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
13536 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
13537 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
13538 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
13546 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13547 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13548 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13549 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
13550 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13551 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
13552 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
13553 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
13554 (@value{GDBP}) cont
13559 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
13561 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13562 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13563 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13564 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
13565 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13566 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
13570 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
13571 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13572 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
13574 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
13575 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
13576 the platform being used.
13577 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
13578 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
13581 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
13582 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
13583 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
13584 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
13585 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
13586 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
13588 @node Ravenscar Profile
13589 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
13590 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
13592 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
13593 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
13597 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
13598 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
13599 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
13600 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
13601 Profile. This is the default.
13603 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
13604 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
13605 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
13606 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
13607 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
13608 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
13609 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
13611 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
13612 @item show ravenscar task-switching
13613 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
13614 using the Ravenscar Profile.
13619 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
13620 @cindex Ada, problems
13622 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
13623 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
13625 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
13626 and the GNU Ada compiler.
13630 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
13631 storage are invisible to the debugger.
13634 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
13635 argument lists are treated as positional).
13638 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
13641 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
13642 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
13646 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
13647 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
13648 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
13649 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
13650 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
13651 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
13652 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
13653 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
13654 you can usually resolve the confusion
13655 by qualifying the problematic names with package
13656 @code{Standard} explicitly.
13659 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
13660 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
13661 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
13662 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
13663 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
13666 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13667 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13670 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
13671 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
13672 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
13673 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
13674 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
13675 This is the default.
13677 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
13678 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
13679 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
13680 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
13681 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
13682 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
13683 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
13687 @node Unsupported Languages
13688 @section Unsupported Languages
13690 @cindex unsupported languages
13691 @cindex minimal language
13692 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
13693 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
13694 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
13695 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
13696 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
13697 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
13699 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
13700 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
13704 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
13706 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
13707 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
13708 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
13709 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
13710 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
13711 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
13712 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
13714 @cindex symbol names
13715 @cindex names of symbols
13716 @cindex quoting names
13717 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
13718 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
13719 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
13720 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
13721 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
13722 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
13723 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
13724 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
13731 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
13734 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
13735 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
13736 @kindex set case-sensitive
13737 @item set case-sensitive on
13738 @itemx set case-sensitive off
13739 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
13740 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
13741 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
13742 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
13743 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
13744 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
13745 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
13746 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
13747 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
13748 case-insensitive matches.
13750 @kindex show case-sensitive
13751 @item show case-sensitive
13752 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
13755 @kindex info address
13756 @cindex address of a symbol
13757 @item info address @var{symbol}
13758 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
13759 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
13760 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
13763 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
13764 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
13765 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
13767 @kindex info symbol
13768 @cindex symbol from address
13769 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
13770 @item info symbol @var{addr}
13771 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
13772 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
13773 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
13776 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
13777 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
13781 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
13782 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
13784 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
13785 library containing the symbol is also printed:
13788 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
13789 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
13790 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
13791 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
13795 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
13796 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
13797 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
13798 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
13799 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
13800 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
13801 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
13802 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
13803 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
13804 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
13805 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13808 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
13809 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
13810 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
13811 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13813 For example, for this variable declaration:
13816 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
13820 the two commands give this output:
13824 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
13825 type = struct complex
13826 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
13827 type = struct complex @{
13835 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
13836 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
13838 @cindex incomplete type
13839 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
13840 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
13841 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
13842 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
13843 given these declarations:
13847 struct foo *fooptr;
13851 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
13854 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
13855 $1 = <incomplete type>
13859 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
13860 completely specified.
13863 @item info types @var{regexp}
13865 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
13866 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
13867 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
13868 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
13869 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
13870 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
13871 name is @code{value}.
13873 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
13874 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
13875 lists all source files where a type is defined.
13878 @cindex local variables
13879 @item info scope @var{location}
13880 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
13881 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
13882 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
13883 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
13884 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
13887 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
13888 Scope for command_line_handler:
13889 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
13890 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
13891 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
13892 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
13893 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
13894 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
13895 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
13899 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
13900 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
13903 @kindex info source
13905 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
13906 the function containing the current point of execution:
13909 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
13911 the directory it was compiled in,
13913 its length, in lines,
13915 which programming language it is written in,
13917 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
13918 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
13920 whether the debugging information includes information about
13921 preprocessor macros.
13925 @kindex info sources
13927 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
13928 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
13929 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
13931 @kindex info functions
13932 @item info functions
13933 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
13935 @item info functions @var{regexp}
13936 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
13937 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
13938 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
13939 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
13940 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
13941 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
13942 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
13944 @kindex info variables
13945 @item info variables
13946 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
13947 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
13949 @item info variables @var{regexp}
13950 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
13951 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
13954 @kindex info classes
13955 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
13957 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
13958 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
13959 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13962 @kindex info selectors
13963 @item info selectors
13964 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
13965 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
13966 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13970 This was never implemented.
13971 @kindex info methods
13973 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
13974 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
13975 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
13976 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
13977 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
13978 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
13979 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
13980 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
13983 @cindex reloading symbols
13984 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
13985 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
13986 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
13987 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
13988 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
13991 @kindex set symbol-reloading
13992 @item set symbol-reloading on
13993 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
13994 object file with a particular name is seen again.
13996 @item set symbol-reloading off
13997 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
13998 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
13999 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
14000 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
14001 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
14002 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
14005 @kindex show symbol-reloading
14006 @item show symbol-reloading
14007 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
14010 @cindex opaque data types
14011 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
14012 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
14013 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
14014 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
14015 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
14016 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
14017 another source file. The default is on.
14019 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
14020 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
14022 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
14023 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
14024 is printed as follows:
14026 @{<no data fields>@}
14029 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
14030 @item show opaque-type-resolution
14031 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
14033 @kindex maint print symbols
14034 @cindex symbol dump
14035 @kindex maint print psymbols
14036 @cindex partial symbol dump
14037 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
14038 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
14039 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
14040 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
14041 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
14042 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
14043 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
14044 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
14045 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
14046 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
14047 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
14048 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
14049 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
14050 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
14051 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
14052 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
14053 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
14055 @kindex maint info symtabs
14056 @kindex maint info psymtabs
14057 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
14058 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14059 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14060 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14061 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14062 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14064 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
14065 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
14066 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
14067 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
14068 structure in more detail. For example:
14071 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
14072 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14073 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14074 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14075 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
14078 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
14079 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
14080 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
14081 dependencies (none)
14084 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14088 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
14089 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
14090 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
14091 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
14092 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
14095 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
14096 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
14098 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14099 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14100 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14101 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14102 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
14105 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
14106 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
14107 debugformat DWARF 2
14116 @chapter Altering Execution
14118 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
14119 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
14120 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
14121 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
14124 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
14125 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
14126 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
14129 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
14130 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
14131 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
14132 * Returning:: Returning from a function
14133 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
14134 * Patching:: Patching your program
14138 @section Assignment to Variables
14141 @cindex setting variables
14142 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
14143 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
14150 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
14151 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
14152 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
14153 information on operators in supported languages.
14155 @kindex set variable
14156 @cindex variables, setting
14157 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
14158 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
14159 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
14160 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
14161 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
14163 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
14164 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
14165 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
14166 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
14167 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
14168 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
14169 command @code{set width}:
14172 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
14174 (@value{GDBP}) p width
14176 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
14177 Invalid syntax in expression.
14181 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
14182 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
14185 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
14188 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
14189 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
14190 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
14191 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
14192 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
14193 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
14197 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
14201 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
14205 The program being debugged has been started already.
14206 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
14207 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
14208 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
14209 Invalid bfd target.
14210 (@value{GDBP}) show g
14211 The current BFD target is "=4".
14216 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
14217 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
14221 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
14224 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
14225 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
14226 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
14227 same length or shorter.
14228 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
14229 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
14231 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
14232 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
14233 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
14234 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
14235 and representation in memory), and
14238 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
14242 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
14245 @section Continuing at a Different Address
14247 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
14248 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
14249 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
14253 @item jump @var{linespec}
14254 @itemx jump @var{location}
14255 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
14256 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
14257 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
14258 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
14259 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
14260 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14262 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
14263 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
14264 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
14265 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
14266 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
14267 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
14268 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
14269 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
14270 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
14273 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
14274 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
14275 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
14276 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
14277 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
14285 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
14286 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
14287 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
14289 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
14290 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
14291 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
14296 @section Giving your Program a Signal
14297 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
14301 @item signal @var{signal}
14302 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
14303 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
14304 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
14305 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
14307 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
14308 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
14309 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
14310 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
14313 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
14314 after executing the command.
14318 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
14319 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
14320 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
14321 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
14322 passes the signal directly to your program.
14326 @section Returning from a Function
14329 @cindex returning from a function
14332 @itemx return @var{expression}
14333 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
14334 command. If you give an
14335 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
14339 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
14340 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
14341 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
14342 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
14344 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
14345 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
14346 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
14347 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
14350 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
14351 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
14352 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
14353 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
14354 selected stack frame returns naturally.
14356 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
14357 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
14358 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
14359 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
14360 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
14361 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
14362 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
14363 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
14364 assignment into the right register(s).
14366 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
14367 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
14368 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
14369 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
14370 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
14371 into a @code{long long int}:
14374 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
14376 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
14377 Make func return now? (y or n) y
14378 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
14379 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
14383 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
14384 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
14385 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
14386 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
14387 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
14388 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
14389 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
14390 an appropriate cast explicitly:
14393 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
14394 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
14395 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
14396 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
14397 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
14398 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
14399 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
14404 @section Calling Program Functions
14407 @cindex calling functions
14408 @cindex inferior functions, calling
14409 @item print @var{expr}
14410 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
14411 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
14415 @item call @var{expr}
14416 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
14419 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
14420 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
14421 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
14422 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
14423 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
14427 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
14428 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
14429 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
14430 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
14432 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
14433 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
14434 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
14435 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
14436 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
14437 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
14438 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
14439 in that case is controlled by the
14440 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
14443 @item set unwindonsignal
14444 @kindex set unwindonsignal
14445 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
14446 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
14447 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
14448 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
14449 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
14450 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
14451 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
14454 @item show unwindonsignal
14455 @kindex show unwindonsignal
14456 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14459 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14460 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14461 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
14462 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
14463 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
14464 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
14465 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
14466 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
14467 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
14468 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
14470 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14471 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14472 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14477 @cindex weak alias functions
14478 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
14479 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
14480 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
14481 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
14482 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
14483 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
14487 @section Patching Programs
14489 @cindex patching binaries
14490 @cindex writing into executables
14491 @cindex writing into corefiles
14493 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
14494 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
14495 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
14496 patching your program's binary.
14498 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
14499 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
14500 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
14506 @itemx set write off
14507 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
14508 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
14509 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
14511 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
14512 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
14513 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
14517 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
14518 as well as reading.
14522 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
14524 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
14525 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
14526 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
14527 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
14530 * Files:: Commands to specify files
14531 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
14532 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
14533 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
14534 * Data Files:: GDB data files
14538 @section Commands to Specify Files
14540 @cindex symbol table
14541 @cindex core dump file
14543 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
14544 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
14545 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
14546 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
14548 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
14549 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
14550 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
14551 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
14552 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
14553 new files are useful.
14556 @cindex executable file
14558 @item file @var{filename}
14559 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
14560 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
14561 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
14562 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
14563 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
14564 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
14565 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
14566 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
14568 @cindex unlinked object files
14569 @cindex patching object files
14570 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
14571 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
14572 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
14573 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
14574 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
14575 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
14576 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
14577 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
14580 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
14581 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
14584 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14585 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
14586 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
14587 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
14588 discard information on the executable file.
14590 @kindex symbol-file
14591 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14592 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
14593 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
14594 table and program to run from the same file.
14596 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
14597 program's symbol table.
14599 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
14600 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
14601 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
14602 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
14605 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
14608 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
14609 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
14610 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
14611 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
14612 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
14613 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
14616 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
14617 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
14618 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
14619 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
14620 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
14622 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
14623 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
14624 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
14625 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
14626 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
14627 Warnings and Messages}.)
14629 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
14630 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
14631 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
14632 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
14636 @cindex reading symbols immediately
14637 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
14638 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14639 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14640 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
14641 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
14642 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
14643 entire symbol table available.
14645 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
14646 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
14647 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
14648 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
14649 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
14650 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
14654 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
14656 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
14657 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
14658 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
14659 executable file itself for other parts.
14661 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
14664 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
14665 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
14666 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
14667 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
14668 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
14670 @kindex add-symbol-file
14671 @cindex dynamic linking
14672 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
14673 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
14674 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
14675 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
14676 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
14677 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
14678 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
14679 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
14680 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
14681 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
14682 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
14683 @var{address} as an expression.
14685 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
14686 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
14687 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
14688 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
14689 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
14691 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
14692 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
14693 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
14694 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
14695 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
14696 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
14697 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
14698 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
14699 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
14703 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
14704 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
14706 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
14707 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
14709 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
14710 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14714 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
14715 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
14716 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
14717 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
14718 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
14719 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
14720 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
14721 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
14722 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
14725 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
14727 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
14728 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
14729 @cindex load symbols from memory
14730 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
14731 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
14732 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
14733 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
14734 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
14735 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
14736 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
14737 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
14738 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
14740 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
14742 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
14743 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
14744 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
14745 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
14746 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
14747 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
14748 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
14749 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
14750 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
14751 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
14754 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
14755 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
14756 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
14757 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
14758 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
14759 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
14760 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
14764 @kindex info target
14767 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
14768 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
14769 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
14770 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
14771 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
14774 @kindex maint info sections
14775 @item maint info sections
14776 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
14777 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
14778 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
14779 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
14780 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
14781 may be arbitrarily combined):
14785 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
14786 @item @var{sections}
14787 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
14788 @item @var{section-flags}
14789 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
14790 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
14793 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
14794 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
14796 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
14797 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
14799 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
14801 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
14803 Section contains executable code only.
14805 Section contains data only (no executable code).
14807 Section will reside in ROM.
14809 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
14811 Section is not empty.
14813 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
14814 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
14815 A notification to the linker that the section contains
14816 COFF shared library information.
14818 Section contains common symbols.
14821 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
14822 @cindex read-only sections
14823 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
14824 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
14825 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
14826 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
14827 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
14828 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
14829 enhancement to debugging performance.
14831 The default is off.
14833 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
14834 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
14835 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
14836 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
14838 @item show trust-readonly-sections
14839 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
14842 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
14843 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
14844 name and remembers it that way.
14846 @cindex shared libraries
14847 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
14848 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
14849 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
14851 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
14852 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
14854 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
14855 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
14856 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
14857 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
14858 debugging a core file).
14860 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
14861 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
14863 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
14864 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
14865 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
14867 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
14868 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
14869 particularly large or there are many of them.
14871 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
14875 @kindex set auto-solib-add
14876 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
14877 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
14878 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
14879 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
14880 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
14881 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
14882 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
14884 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
14885 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
14886 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
14887 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
14888 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
14889 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
14890 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
14891 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
14892 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
14894 @kindex show auto-solib-add
14895 @item show auto-solib-add
14896 Display the current autoloading mode.
14899 @cindex load shared library
14900 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
14904 @kindex info sharedlibrary
14906 @item info share @var{regex}
14907 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14908 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
14909 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
14910 all shared libraries that are loaded.
14912 @kindex sharedlibrary
14914 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14915 @itemx share @var{regex}
14916 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
14917 Unix regular expression.
14918 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
14919 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
14920 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
14923 @item nosharedlibrary
14924 @kindex nosharedlibrary
14925 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
14926 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
14927 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
14928 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
14932 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
14933 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
14934 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
14937 @item set stop-on-solib-events
14938 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
14939 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
14940 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
14941 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
14944 @item show stop-on-solib-events
14945 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
14946 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
14947 library events happen.
14950 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
14951 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
14952 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
14953 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
14954 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
14955 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
14956 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
14959 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
14960 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
14961 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
14962 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
14963 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
14966 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
14967 @cindex system root, alternate
14968 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
14969 @kindex set sysroot
14970 @item set sysroot @var{path}
14971 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
14972 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
14973 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
14974 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
14975 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
14976 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
14979 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
14980 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
14981 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
14982 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
14983 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
14984 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
14985 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
14986 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
14987 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
14989 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
14990 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
14991 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
14992 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
14993 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
14996 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
14999 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
15000 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
15004 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
15007 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
15008 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
15009 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
15013 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
15016 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
15017 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
15018 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
15022 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
15023 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15024 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15028 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
15029 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
15030 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
15032 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
15033 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
15036 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
15039 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
15040 if you don't want or need to.
15042 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
15045 @cindex default system root
15046 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
15047 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
15048 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
15049 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15050 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
15051 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15054 @kindex show sysroot
15056 Display the current shared library prefix.
15058 @kindex set solib-search-path
15059 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
15060 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15061 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
15062 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
15063 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
15064 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
15065 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
15066 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
15067 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
15068 of shared library symbols.
15070 @kindex show solib-search-path
15071 @item show solib-search-path
15072 Display the current shared library search path.
15074 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
15075 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
15076 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
15077 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
15078 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
15080 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
15081 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
15082 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
15083 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
15084 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
15085 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
15086 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
15087 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
15088 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
15089 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
15090 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
15091 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
15092 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
15093 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
15094 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
15095 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
15096 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
15097 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
15098 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
15099 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
15100 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
15101 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
15105 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
15106 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
15107 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
15111 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
15112 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
15113 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
15114 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
15115 considered directory separators.
15118 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
15119 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
15120 This is the default.
15125 @node Separate Debug Files
15126 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
15127 @cindex separate debugging information files
15128 @cindex debugging information in separate files
15129 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
15130 @cindex debugging information directory, global
15131 @cindex global debugging information directory
15132 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
15133 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
15135 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
15136 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
15137 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
15138 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
15139 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
15140 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
15141 install only when they need to debug a problem.
15143 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
15148 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
15149 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
15150 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
15151 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
15152 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
15153 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
15154 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
15155 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
15158 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
15159 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
15160 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
15161 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
15162 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
15163 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
15164 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
15165 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
15169 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
15170 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
15174 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
15175 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
15176 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
15177 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
15178 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
15181 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
15182 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
15183 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
15184 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
15185 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
15186 hex characters, not 10.)
15189 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
15190 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
15191 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
15192 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
15193 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
15194 debug information files, in the indicated order:
15198 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
15200 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
15202 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
15204 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
15207 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
15208 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
15212 @kindex set debug-file-directory
15213 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
15214 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15215 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
15216 concatenating them by a directory separator.
15218 @kindex show debug-file-directory
15219 @item show debug-file-directory
15220 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15225 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
15226 @cindex debug link sections
15227 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
15228 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
15232 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
15235 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
15236 boundary within the section, and
15238 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
15239 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
15240 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
15241 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
15244 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
15245 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
15248 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
15249 @cindex build ID sections
15250 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
15251 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
15252 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
15253 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
15254 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
15255 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
15256 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
15257 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
15258 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
15260 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
15261 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
15262 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
15263 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
15264 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
15265 in an ordinary executable.
15267 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
15268 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
15269 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
15270 following commands:
15273 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
15278 These commands remove the debugging
15279 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
15280 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
15285 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
15286 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
15289 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
15292 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
15293 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
15294 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
15295 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
15298 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
15299 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
15300 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
15301 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
15306 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
15307 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
15308 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
15310 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
15311 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
15312 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
15317 <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>
15318 + <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
15324 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
15325 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
15329 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
15330 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
15331 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
15332 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
15335 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
15336 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
15337 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
15338 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
15339 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
15340 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
15342 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
15343 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
15344 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
15345 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
15348 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
15351 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
15352 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
15354 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
15356 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
15357 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
15358 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
15359 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
15360 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
15361 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
15362 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
15363 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
15364 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
15365 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
15366 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
15367 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
15368 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
15369 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
15370 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
15371 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
15372 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
15373 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
15374 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
15375 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
15376 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
15377 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
15378 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
15379 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
15380 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
15381 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
15382 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
15383 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
15384 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
15385 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
15386 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
15387 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
15388 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
15389 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
15390 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
15391 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
15392 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
15393 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
15394 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
15395 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
15396 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
15397 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
15398 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
15399 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
15400 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
15401 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
15402 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
15403 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
15404 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
15405 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
15406 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
15409 unsigned char *end;
15411 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
15412 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
15413 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
15414 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
15419 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
15423 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
15424 @cindex index files
15425 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
15427 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
15428 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
15429 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
15430 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
15431 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
15434 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
15435 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
15436 using @command{objcopy}.
15438 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
15441 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
15442 @kindex save gdb-index
15443 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
15444 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
15445 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
15449 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
15450 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
15453 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
15454 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
15457 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
15458 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
15459 currently work for programs using Ada.
15461 @node Symbol Errors
15462 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
15464 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
15465 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
15466 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
15467 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
15468 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
15469 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
15470 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
15471 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
15472 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
15473 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15476 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
15479 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
15481 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
15482 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
15483 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
15484 in its outer scope blocks.
15486 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
15487 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
15488 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
15491 @item block at @var{address} out of order
15493 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
15494 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
15497 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
15498 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
15499 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
15500 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15503 @item bad block start address patched
15505 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
15506 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
15507 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
15509 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
15510 starting on the previous source line.
15512 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
15515 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
15516 larger than the size of the string table.
15518 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
15519 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
15522 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
15524 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
15525 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
15526 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
15528 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
15529 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
15530 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
15531 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
15532 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
15533 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
15535 @item stub type has NULL name
15537 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
15539 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
15540 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
15541 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
15544 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
15546 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
15551 @section GDB Data Files
15553 @cindex prefix for data files
15554 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
15555 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
15557 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
15558 is currently using.
15561 @kindex set data-directory
15562 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
15563 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
15564 to @var{directory}.
15566 @kindex show data-directory
15567 @item show data-directory
15568 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
15571 @cindex default data directory
15572 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
15573 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
15574 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
15575 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15576 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
15577 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15580 The data directory may also be specified with the
15581 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
15582 @xref{Mode Options}.
15585 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
15587 @cindex debugging target
15588 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
15590 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
15591 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
15592 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
15593 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
15594 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
15595 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
15596 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
15597 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
15599 @cindex target architecture
15600 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
15601 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
15602 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
15606 @kindex set architecture
15607 @kindex show architecture
15608 @item set architecture @var{arch}
15609 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
15610 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
15611 supported architectures.
15613 @item show architecture
15614 Show the current target architecture.
15616 @item set processor
15618 @kindex set processor
15619 @kindex show processor
15620 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
15621 and @code{show architecture}.
15625 * Active Targets:: Active targets
15626 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
15627 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
15630 @node Active Targets
15631 @section Active Targets
15633 @cindex stacking targets
15634 @cindex active targets
15635 @cindex multiple targets
15637 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
15638 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
15639 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
15640 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
15641 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
15642 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
15643 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
15644 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
15645 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
15647 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
15648 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
15649 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
15650 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
15652 @node Target Commands
15653 @section Commands for Managing Targets
15656 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
15657 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
15658 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
15659 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
15660 protocol of the target machine.
15662 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
15663 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
15664 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
15666 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
15667 after executing the command.
15669 @kindex help target
15671 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
15672 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
15673 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15675 @item help target @var{name}
15676 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
15679 @kindex set gnutarget
15680 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
15681 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
15682 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
15683 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
15684 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
15685 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
15688 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
15689 you must know the actual BFD name.
15693 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
15695 @kindex show gnutarget
15696 @item show gnutarget
15697 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
15698 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
15699 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
15700 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
15703 @cindex common targets
15704 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
15709 @item target exec @var{program}
15710 @cindex executable file target
15711 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
15712 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
15714 @item target core @var{filename}
15715 @cindex core dump file target
15716 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
15717 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
15719 @item target remote @var{medium}
15720 @cindex remote target
15721 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
15722 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
15723 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
15725 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
15726 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
15729 target remote /dev/ttya
15732 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
15733 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
15734 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
15735 clobbered by the download.
15737 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
15738 @cindex built-in simulator target
15739 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
15747 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
15748 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
15749 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
15750 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
15755 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
15759 @item target nrom @var{dev}
15760 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
15761 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
15765 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
15766 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
15768 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
15769 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
15770 various aspects of this process.
15775 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15776 @cindex hash mark while downloading
15777 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
15778 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
15779 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
15783 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15784 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
15786 @item set debug monitor
15787 @kindex set debug monitor
15788 @cindex display remote monitor communications
15789 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
15790 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15792 @item show debug monitor
15793 @kindex show debug monitor
15794 Show the current status of displaying communications between
15795 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15800 @kindex load @var{filename}
15801 @item load @var{filename}
15803 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
15804 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
15805 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
15806 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
15807 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
15808 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15810 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
15811 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
15812 target is @dots{}}''
15814 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
15815 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
15816 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
15817 specifies a fixed address.
15818 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
15820 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
15821 load programs into flash memory.
15823 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
15827 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
15829 @cindex choosing target byte order
15830 @cindex target byte order
15832 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
15833 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
15834 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
15835 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
15836 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
15837 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
15841 @item set endian big
15842 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
15844 @item set endian little
15845 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
15847 @item set endian auto
15848 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
15852 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
15856 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
15857 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
15861 @node Remote Debugging
15862 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
15863 @cindex remote debugging
15865 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
15866 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
15867 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
15868 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
15869 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
15871 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
15872 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
15873 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
15874 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
15875 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
15876 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
15878 Other remote targets may be available in your
15879 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
15882 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
15883 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
15884 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
15885 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
15886 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
15890 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
15892 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
15893 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
15894 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
15895 program as the first argument.
15897 @cindex @code{target remote}
15898 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
15899 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
15900 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
15901 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
15902 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
15903 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
15907 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
15908 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
15909 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
15910 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
15913 target remote /dev/ttyb
15916 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
15917 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
15918 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
15919 @code{target} command.
15921 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
15922 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15923 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
15924 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
15925 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
15926 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
15927 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
15928 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
15931 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
15935 target remote manyfarms:2828
15938 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
15939 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
15940 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
15941 port 1234 on your local machine:
15944 target remote :1234
15948 Note that the colon is still required here.
15950 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15951 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
15952 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
15953 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
15956 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
15959 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
15960 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
15961 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
15962 cause havoc with your debugging session.
15964 @item target remote | @var{command}
15965 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
15966 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
15967 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
15968 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
15969 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
15970 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
15971 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
15972 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
15974 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
15975 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
15976 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
15980 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
15981 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
15982 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
15983 need to use @kbd{run}.
15985 @cindex interrupting remote programs
15986 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
15987 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
15988 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
15989 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
15990 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
15991 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
15994 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
15995 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
15998 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
15999 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
16000 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
16001 goes back to waiting.
16004 @kindex detach (remote)
16006 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
16007 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
16008 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
16009 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
16010 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
16014 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
16015 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
16016 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
16017 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
16020 @cindex send command to remote monitor
16021 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
16022 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
16024 @item monitor @var{cmd}
16025 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
16026 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
16027 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
16028 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
16032 @node File Transfer
16033 @section Sending files to a remote system
16034 @cindex remote target, file transfer
16035 @cindex file transfer
16036 @cindex sending files to remote systems
16038 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
16039 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
16040 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
16041 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
16042 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
16043 the only way to upload or download files.
16045 Not all remote targets support these commands.
16049 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
16050 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
16051 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
16054 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
16055 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
16056 on the host system.
16058 @kindex remote delete
16059 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
16060 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
16065 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
16068 @cindex remote connection without stubs
16069 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
16070 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
16071 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
16073 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
16074 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
16075 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
16076 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
16077 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
16078 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
16079 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
16080 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
16081 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
16082 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
16083 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
16084 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
16085 choice for debugging.
16087 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
16088 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
16092 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
16093 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
16094 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
16095 target system with the same privileges as the user running
16099 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
16100 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
16102 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
16103 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
16104 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
16105 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
16106 system does all the symbol handling.
16108 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
16109 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
16113 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
16116 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
16117 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
16118 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
16122 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
16125 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
16128 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
16131 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
16134 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
16135 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
16136 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
16137 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
16138 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
16139 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
16140 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
16141 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
16142 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
16143 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
16144 @code{target remote} command.
16146 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
16148 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
16149 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
16152 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
16155 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
16156 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
16159 @cindex attach to a program by name
16160 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
16161 @code{pidof} utility:
16164 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
16167 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
16168 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
16169 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
16171 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
16172 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
16173 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
16175 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
16176 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
16177 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
16178 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
16180 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
16181 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
16182 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
16183 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
16184 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
16185 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
16186 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
16187 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
16188 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
16190 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
16191 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
16192 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
16193 the program you want to debug.
16195 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
16196 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
16197 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
16199 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
16201 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
16202 status information about the debugging process. The
16203 @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
16204 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
16205 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
16207 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
16208 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
16209 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
16210 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
16212 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
16213 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
16214 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
16215 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
16217 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
16218 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
16219 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
16220 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
16222 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
16223 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
16227 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
16230 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
16232 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
16234 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
16235 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
16236 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
16237 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
16239 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
16240 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
16241 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
16242 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
16243 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
16244 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
16247 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16248 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
16249 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
16250 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
16251 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
16252 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
16253 already on the target.
16255 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
16256 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
16257 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
16259 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
16260 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
16261 Here are the available commands.
16265 List the available monitor commands.
16267 @item monitor set debug 0
16268 @itemx monitor set debug 1
16269 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
16271 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
16272 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
16273 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
16274 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
16276 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
16277 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
16278 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16279 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
16280 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
16281 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to an empty list.
16284 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
16285 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
16286 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
16287 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
16288 of a multi-process mode debug session.
16292 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
16293 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
16295 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
16296 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
16298 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
16299 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
16300 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
16301 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
16302 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
16303 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
16304 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
16305 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
16306 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
16307 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
16308 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
16309 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
16311 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
16314 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
16316 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
16317 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
16318 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
16320 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
16322 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
16323 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
16324 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
16325 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
16326 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
16327 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
16329 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
16331 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
16332 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
16333 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
16334 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
16335 command for that. For example:
16338 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
16341 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
16342 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
16345 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
16346 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
16347 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
16348 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
16349 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
16350 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
16351 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
16352 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
16353 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
16354 @code{gdbserver} like so:
16357 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
16360 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
16364 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
16365 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
16366 (@value{GDBP}) b main
16367 (@value{GDBP}) continue
16370 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
16371 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
16372 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
16373 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
16374 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
16377 @node Remote Configuration
16378 @section Remote Configuration
16381 @kindex show remote
16382 This section documents the configuration options available when
16383 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
16384 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
16385 system-call-allowed}.
16388 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
16389 @cindex address size for remote targets
16390 @cindex bits in remote address
16391 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
16392 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
16393 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
16394 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
16396 @item show remoteaddresssize
16397 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
16399 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
16400 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
16401 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
16402 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
16405 @item show remotebaud
16406 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
16408 @item set remotebreak
16409 @cindex interrupt remote programs
16410 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
16411 @anchor{set remotebreak}
16412 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
16413 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
16414 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
16415 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
16416 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
16418 @item show remotebreak
16419 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
16420 interrupt the remote program.
16422 @item set remoteflow on
16423 @itemx set remoteflow off
16424 @kindex set remoteflow
16425 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
16426 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
16428 @item show remoteflow
16429 @kindex show remoteflow
16430 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
16432 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
16433 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
16434 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
16435 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
16438 @item show remotelogbase
16439 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
16442 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
16443 @cindex record serial communications on file
16444 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
16445 default is not to record at all.
16447 @item show remotelogfile.
16448 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
16449 serial communications.
16451 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
16452 @cindex timeout for serial communications
16453 @cindex remote timeout
16454 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
16455 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
16457 @item show remotetimeout
16458 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
16461 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
16462 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
16463 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
16464 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
16465 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
16466 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
16467 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
16468 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
16470 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
16471 @itemx show remote exec-file
16472 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
16473 @cindex executable file, for remote target
16474 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
16475 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
16476 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
16477 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
16479 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
16480 @cindex interrupt remote programs
16481 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
16482 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
16483 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
16484 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
16485 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
16486 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
16487 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
16488 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
16490 @item show interrupt-sequence
16491 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
16492 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
16493 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
16494 also known as Magic SysRq g.
16496 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
16497 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
16498 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
16499 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
16500 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
16501 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
16503 @item show interrupt-on-connect
16504 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
16505 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
16509 @item set tcp auto-retry on
16510 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
16511 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
16512 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
16513 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
16514 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
16515 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
16516 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
16517 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
16519 @item set tcp auto-retry off
16520 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
16522 @item show tcp auto-retry
16523 Show the current auto-retry setting.
16525 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
16526 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
16527 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
16528 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
16529 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
16530 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
16531 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
16534 @item show tcp connect-timeout
16535 Show the current connection timeout setting.
16538 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
16539 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
16540 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
16541 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
16542 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
16543 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
16544 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
16545 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
16546 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
16548 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
16549 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
16550 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
16551 @value{GDBN} developers.
16553 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
16554 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
16557 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
16560 @tab Related Features
16562 @item @code{fetch-register}
16564 @tab @code{info registers}
16566 @item @code{set-register}
16570 @item @code{binary-download}
16572 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
16574 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
16575 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
16576 @tab @code{info auxv}
16578 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
16579 @tab @code{qSymbol}
16580 @tab Detecting multiple threads
16582 @item @code{attach}
16583 @tab @code{vAttach}
16586 @item @code{verbose-resume}
16588 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
16594 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
16598 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
16602 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
16606 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
16610 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
16614 @item @code{target-features}
16615 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
16616 @tab @code{set architecture}
16618 @item @code{library-info}
16619 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
16620 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
16622 @item @code{memory-map}
16623 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
16624 @tab @code{info mem}
16626 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
16627 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
16628 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
16630 @item @code{read-spu-object}
16631 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
16632 @tab @code{info spu}
16634 @item @code{write-spu-object}
16635 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
16636 @tab @code{info spu}
16638 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
16639 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
16640 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
16642 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
16643 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
16644 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
16646 @item @code{threads}
16647 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
16648 @tab @code{info threads}
16650 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
16651 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
16652 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
16654 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
16655 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
16656 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
16658 @item @code{search-memory}
16659 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
16662 @item @code{supported-packets}
16663 @tab @code{qSupported}
16664 @tab Remote communications parameters
16666 @item @code{pass-signals}
16667 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
16668 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
16670 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
16671 @tab @code{vFile:close}
16672 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16674 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
16675 @tab @code{vFile:open}
16676 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16678 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
16679 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
16680 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16682 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
16683 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
16684 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16686 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
16687 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
16688 @tab @code{remote delete}
16690 @item @code{noack-packet}
16691 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
16692 @tab Packet acknowledgment
16694 @item @code{osdata}
16695 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
16696 @tab @code{info os}
16698 @item @code{query-attached}
16699 @tab @code{qAttached}
16700 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
16704 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
16706 @cindex debugging stub, example
16707 @cindex remote stub, example
16708 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
16709 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
16710 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
16711 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
16712 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
16713 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
16714 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
16715 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
16717 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
16718 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
16719 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
16720 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
16725 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
16726 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
16727 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
16730 A C subroutine library to support your program's
16731 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
16734 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
16735 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
16736 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
16740 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
16741 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
16742 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
16746 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
16747 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
16748 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
16750 @item On the target,
16751 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
16752 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
16753 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
16755 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
16756 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
16757 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
16760 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
16761 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
16764 @cindex remote serial stub list
16765 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
16770 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
16773 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
16776 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
16777 @cindex Motorola 680x0
16779 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
16782 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
16785 For Renesas SH architectures.
16788 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
16790 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
16792 @item sparcl-stub.c
16793 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
16796 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
16800 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
16801 recently added stubs.
16804 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
16805 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
16806 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
16809 @node Stub Contents
16810 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
16812 @cindex remote serial stub
16813 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
16817 @item set_debug_traps
16818 @findex set_debug_traps
16819 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
16820 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
16821 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
16822 beginning of your program.
16824 @item handle_exception
16825 @findex handle_exception
16826 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
16827 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
16828 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
16829 run when a trap is triggered.
16831 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
16832 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
16833 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
16834 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
16835 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
16836 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
16837 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
16838 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
16839 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
16843 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
16844 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
16845 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
16846 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
16847 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
16848 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
16849 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
16850 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
16851 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
16852 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
16853 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
16855 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
16856 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
16857 start of your debugging session.
16860 @node Bootstrapping
16861 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
16863 @cindex remote stub, support routines
16864 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
16865 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
16866 debugging target machine.
16868 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
16872 @item int getDebugChar()
16873 @findex getDebugChar
16874 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
16875 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
16876 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16878 @item void putDebugChar(int)
16879 @findex putDebugChar
16880 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
16881 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
16882 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16885 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
16886 @cindex interrupting remote targets
16887 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
16888 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
16889 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
16890 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
16891 remote system to stop.
16893 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
16894 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
16895 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
16896 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
16898 Other routines you need to supply are:
16901 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
16902 @findex exceptionHandler
16903 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
16904 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
16905 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
16906 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
16907 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
16908 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
16909 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
16910 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
16911 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
16912 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
16913 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
16914 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
16915 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
16917 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
16918 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
16919 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
16920 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
16921 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
16923 @item void flush_i_cache()
16924 @findex flush_i_cache
16925 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
16926 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
16927 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
16929 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
16930 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
16934 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
16937 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
16939 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
16940 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
16941 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
16942 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
16945 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
16946 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
16947 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
16948 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
16951 @node Debug Session
16952 @subsection Putting it All Together
16954 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
16955 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
16960 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
16961 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
16963 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
16964 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
16968 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
16976 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
16977 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
16980 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
16984 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
16985 function in your program, that function is called when
16986 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
16987 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
16988 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
16991 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
16992 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
16995 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
16996 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
16999 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
17000 @c document that. FIXME.
17001 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
17002 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
17005 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
17006 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17010 @node Configurations
17011 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
17013 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
17014 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
17015 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
17017 There are three major categories of configurations: native
17018 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
17019 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
17020 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
17021 are quite different from each other.
17026 * Embedded Processors::
17033 This section describes details specific to particular native
17038 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
17039 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
17040 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
17041 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
17042 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
17043 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
17044 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
17050 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
17051 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
17052 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
17055 @node BSD libkvm Interface
17056 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
17059 @cindex kernel memory image
17060 @cindex kernel crash dump
17062 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
17063 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
17064 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
17065 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
17066 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
17067 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
17068 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
17072 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
17075 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
17079 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
17082 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
17088 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
17091 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
17092 modern FreeBSD systems.
17095 @node SVR4 Process Information
17096 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
17098 @cindex examine process image
17099 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
17101 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
17102 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
17103 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
17104 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
17105 proc} is available to report information about the process running
17106 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
17107 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
17108 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
17109 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
17115 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
17116 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
17117 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
17118 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
17119 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
17120 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
17121 executable file's absolute file name.
17123 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
17124 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
17125 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
17126 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
17127 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
17128 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
17130 @item info proc mappings
17131 @cindex memory address space mappings
17132 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
17133 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
17134 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
17135 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
17136 memory access rights to that range.
17138 @item info proc stat
17139 @itemx info proc status
17140 @cindex process detailed status information
17141 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
17142 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
17143 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
17144 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
17145 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
17146 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
17147 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
17149 @item info proc all
17150 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
17151 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
17154 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
17155 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
17156 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
17157 @kindex info proc times
17158 @item info proc times
17159 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
17162 @kindex info proc id
17164 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
17165 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
17168 @item set procfs-trace
17169 @kindex set procfs-trace
17170 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
17171 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
17173 @item show procfs-trace
17174 @kindex show procfs-trace
17175 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
17177 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
17178 @kindex set procfs-file
17179 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
17180 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
17181 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
17184 @item show procfs-file
17185 @kindex show procfs-file
17186 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
17188 @item proc-trace-entry
17189 @itemx proc-trace-exit
17190 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
17191 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
17192 @kindex proc-trace-entry
17193 @kindex proc-trace-exit
17194 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
17195 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
17196 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
17197 from the @code{syscall} interface.
17200 @kindex info pidlist
17201 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
17202 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
17203 processes and all the threads within each process.
17206 @kindex info meminfo
17207 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
17208 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
17212 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
17213 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
17214 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
17215 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
17218 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
17219 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
17220 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
17221 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
17223 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
17224 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
17225 subsection describes those commands.
17230 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
17231 information about the target system and important OS structures.
17234 @cindex MS-DOS system info
17235 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
17236 @item info dos sysinfo
17237 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
17238 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
17239 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
17244 @cindex segment descriptor tables
17245 @cindex descriptor tables display
17247 @itemx info dos ldt
17248 @itemx info dos idt
17249 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
17250 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
17251 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
17252 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
17253 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
17254 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
17257 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
17258 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
17259 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
17260 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
17261 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
17263 @cindex garbled pointers
17264 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
17265 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
17266 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
17267 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
17268 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
17269 debugged program's data segment:
17272 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
17273 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
17277 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
17278 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
17280 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
17282 @itemx info dos pte
17283 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
17284 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
17285 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
17286 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
17287 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
17288 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
17289 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
17290 that is currently in use.
17292 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
17293 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
17294 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
17295 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
17296 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
17297 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
17298 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
17300 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
17301 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
17302 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
17305 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
17307 @cindex physical address from linear address
17308 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
17309 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
17310 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
17311 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
17312 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
17313 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
17314 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
17317 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
17318 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
17319 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
17323 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
17324 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
17325 attributes of that page.
17327 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
17328 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
17329 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
17330 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
17331 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
17332 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
17334 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
17338 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
17339 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
17340 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
17344 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
17345 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
17346 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
17347 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
17348 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
17350 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
17353 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
17354 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
17355 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
17356 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
17359 @kindex set com1base
17360 @kindex set com1irq
17361 @kindex set com2base
17362 @kindex set com2irq
17363 @kindex set com3base
17364 @kindex set com3irq
17365 @kindex set com4base
17366 @kindex set com4irq
17367 @item set com1base @var{addr}
17368 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
17371 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
17372 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
17373 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
17375 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
17376 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
17379 @kindex show com1base
17380 @kindex show com1irq
17381 @kindex show com2base
17382 @kindex show com2irq
17383 @kindex show com3base
17384 @kindex show com3irq
17385 @kindex show com4base
17386 @kindex show com4irq
17387 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
17388 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
17389 lines used by the COM ports.
17392 @kindex info serial
17393 @cindex DOS serial port status
17394 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
17395 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
17396 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
17397 counts of various errors encountered so far.
17401 @node Cygwin Native
17402 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
17403 @cindex MS Windows debugging
17404 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
17405 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
17407 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
17408 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
17410 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
17411 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
17412 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
17413 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
17414 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
17415 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
17416 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
17419 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
17420 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
17421 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
17426 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
17427 information about the target system and important OS structures.
17429 @item info w32 selector
17430 This command displays information returned by
17431 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
17432 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
17433 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
17434 Without argument, this command displays information
17435 about the six segment registers.
17437 @item info w32 thread-information-block
17438 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
17439 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
17440 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
17444 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
17446 @kindex dll-symbols
17448 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
17449 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
17451 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
17452 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
17453 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
17454 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
17455 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
17456 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
17457 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
17458 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
17459 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
17460 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
17461 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
17463 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
17464 @item show cygwin-exceptions
17465 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
17466 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
17468 @kindex set new-console
17469 @item set new-console @var{mode}
17470 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
17471 be started in a new console on next start.
17472 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
17473 be started in the same console as the debugger.
17475 @kindex show new-console
17476 @item show new-console
17477 Displays whether a new console is used
17478 when the debuggee is started.
17480 @kindex set new-group
17481 @item set new-group @var{mode}
17482 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
17483 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
17484 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
17487 @kindex show new-group
17488 @item show new-group
17489 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
17491 @kindex set debugevents
17492 @item set debugevents
17493 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
17494 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
17495 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
17496 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
17497 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
17499 @kindex set debugexec
17500 @item set debugexec
17501 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
17502 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
17504 @kindex set debugexceptions
17505 @item set debugexceptions
17506 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
17507 debuggee seen by the debugger.
17509 @kindex set debugmemory
17510 @item set debugmemory
17511 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
17512 and writes by the debugger.
17516 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
17517 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
17521 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
17526 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
17529 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
17530 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
17531 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
17532 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
17534 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
17535 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
17536 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
17537 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
17538 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
17539 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
17540 ``minimal symbols''.
17542 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
17543 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
17544 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
17545 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
17546 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
17547 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
17548 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
17549 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
17550 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
17551 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
17553 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
17555 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
17556 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
17557 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
17558 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
17559 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
17560 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
17561 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
17562 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
17563 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
17565 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
17566 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
17567 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
17568 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
17569 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
17570 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
17573 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
17574 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
17576 Non-debugging symbols:
17577 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
17578 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
17582 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
17583 All functions matching regular expression "!":
17585 Non-debugging symbols:
17586 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
17587 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
17588 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
17592 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
17594 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
17595 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
17596 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
17597 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
17598 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
17599 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
17600 a function within a DLL without a running program.
17602 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
17603 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
17604 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
17605 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
17609 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
17614 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
17615 0x10021610: "\230y\""
17618 And two possible solutions:
17621 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
17622 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17626 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
17627 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
17628 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
17629 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
17630 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
17631 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17634 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
17635 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
17636 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
17637 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
17638 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
17641 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
17642 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
17645 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
17646 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
17650 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
17651 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
17653 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
17654 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
17659 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
17660 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17661 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
17662 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
17663 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
17668 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
17669 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17670 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
17672 @item set signal-thread
17673 @itemx set sigthread
17674 @kindex set signal-thread
17675 @kindex set sigthread
17676 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
17677 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
17678 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
17681 @item show signal-thread
17682 @itemx show sigthread
17683 @kindex show signal-thread
17684 @kindex show sigthread
17685 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
17686 delivered a signal.
17689 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17690 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
17691 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
17692 continued by delivering a signal to it.
17695 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17696 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
17699 @item set exceptions
17700 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17701 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
17702 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
17703 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
17706 @item show exceptions
17707 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17708 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
17710 @item set task pause
17711 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
17712 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17713 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17714 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
17715 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
17716 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
17717 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
17718 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
17719 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
17721 @item show task pause
17722 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
17723 Show the current state of task suspension.
17725 @item set task detach-suspend-count
17726 @cindex task suspend count
17727 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17728 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
17729 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
17731 @item show task detach-suspend-count
17732 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
17734 @item set task exception-port
17735 @itemx set task excp
17736 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17737 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
17738 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
17739 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
17741 @item set noninvasive
17742 @cindex noninvasive task options
17743 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
17744 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
17745 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
17746 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
17748 @item info send-rights
17749 @itemx info receive-rights
17750 @itemx info port-rights
17751 @itemx info port-sets
17752 @itemx info dead-names
17755 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17756 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17757 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17758 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17759 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17760 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
17761 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
17762 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
17763 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
17765 @item set thread pause
17766 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
17767 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17768 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17769 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
17770 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
17771 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
17772 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
17773 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
17774 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
17775 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
17776 only the current thread.
17778 @item show thread pause
17779 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
17780 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
17782 @item set thread run
17783 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17785 @item show thread run
17786 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17788 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
17789 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17790 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17791 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
17792 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
17793 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
17794 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
17796 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
17797 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
17800 @item set thread exception-port
17801 @itemx set thread excp
17802 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
17803 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
17804 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
17806 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
17807 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
17808 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
17809 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
17811 @item set thread default
17812 @itemx show thread default
17813 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17814 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
17815 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
17816 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
17817 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
17818 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
17819 the non-default commands.
17824 @subsection QNX Neutrino
17825 @cindex QNX Neutrino
17827 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
17831 @item set debug nto-debug
17832 @kindex set debug nto-debug
17833 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
17836 @item show debug nto-debug
17837 @kindex show debug nto-debug
17838 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
17845 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
17848 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
17849 @kindex set debug darwin
17850 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
17851 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
17853 @item show debug darwin
17854 @kindex show debug darwin
17855 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
17857 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
17858 @kindex set debug mach-o
17859 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
17860 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
17861 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
17862 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
17863 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
17866 @item show debug mach-o
17867 @kindex show debug mach-o
17868 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
17870 @item set mach-exceptions on
17871 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
17872 @kindex set mach-exceptions
17873 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
17874 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
17875 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
17876 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
17878 @item show mach-exceptions
17879 @kindex show mach-exceptions
17880 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
17885 @section Embedded Operating Systems
17887 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
17888 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
17892 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17895 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
17896 various real-time operating systems.
17899 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17905 @kindex target vxworks
17906 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
17907 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
17908 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
17912 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
17913 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
17915 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
17916 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
17917 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17918 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
17919 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
17920 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
17921 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
17924 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
17925 @kindex vxworks-timeout
17926 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
17927 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17928 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
17929 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
17930 of a thin network line.
17933 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
17934 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
17937 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
17938 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
17939 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
17940 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
17941 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
17942 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
17943 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
17944 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
17946 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
17948 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
17949 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17950 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
17951 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
17953 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17960 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
17961 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
17962 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
17965 @node VxWorks Connection
17966 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
17968 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
17969 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
17972 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
17976 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17979 Attaching remote machine across net...
17984 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
17985 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
17986 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
17987 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
17988 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
17991 prog.o: No such file or directory.
17994 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
17995 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
17998 @node VxWorks Download
17999 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
18001 @cindex download to VxWorks
18002 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
18003 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
18004 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
18005 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
18006 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
18007 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
18008 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
18009 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
18010 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
18011 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
18012 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
18013 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
18014 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
18015 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
18016 program, type this on VxWorks:
18019 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
18023 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18026 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
18027 (vxgdb) load prog.o
18030 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
18033 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
18036 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
18037 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
18038 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
18039 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
18040 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
18041 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
18044 @node VxWorks Attach
18045 @subsubsection Running Tasks
18047 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
18048 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
18052 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
18056 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
18057 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
18058 the time of attachment.
18060 @node Embedded Processors
18061 @section Embedded Processors
18063 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
18066 @cindex send command to simulator
18067 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
18068 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
18071 @item sim @var{command}
18072 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
18073 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
18074 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
18075 acceptable commands.
18081 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
18082 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
18083 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
18084 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
18085 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
18086 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
18087 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
18088 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
18089 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
18090 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
18093 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
18102 @item target rdi @var{dev}
18103 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
18104 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
18105 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
18108 @item target rdp @var{dev}
18113 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
18116 @item set arm disassembler
18118 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
18119 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
18121 @item show arm disassembler
18123 Show the current disassembly style.
18125 @item set arm apcs32
18126 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
18127 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
18129 @item show arm apcs32
18130 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
18132 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
18133 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
18134 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
18138 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
18140 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
18143 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
18145 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
18151 Show the current type of the FPU.
18154 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
18157 Show the currently used ABI.
18159 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18160 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
18161 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
18162 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
18163 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
18164 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
18167 @item show arm fallback-mode
18168 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
18170 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18171 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
18172 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
18173 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
18174 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
18176 @item show arm force-mode
18177 Show the current forced instruction mode.
18179 @item set debug arm
18180 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
18181 target support subsystem.
18183 @item show debug arm
18184 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
18187 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
18188 using the RDI interface:
18191 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18193 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
18194 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
18195 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
18196 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
18199 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
18200 @kindex rdilogenable
18201 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
18202 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
18203 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
18204 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
18205 are logged to a file.
18207 @item set rdiromatzero
18208 @kindex set rdiromatzero
18209 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
18210 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
18211 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
18212 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
18213 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
18215 @item show rdiromatzero
18216 @kindex show rdiromatzero
18217 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
18219 @item set rdiheartbeat
18220 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
18221 @cindex RDI heartbeat
18222 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
18223 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
18224 well as the Angel monitor.
18226 @item show rdiheartbeat
18227 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
18228 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
18232 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
18233 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
18236 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
18237 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
18238 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
18239 The default value is @code{all}.
18252 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
18255 @kindex target m32r
18256 @item target m32r @var{dev}
18257 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
18259 @kindex target m32rsdi
18260 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
18261 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
18264 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
18267 @item set download-path @var{path}
18268 @kindex set download-path
18269 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
18270 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
18272 @item show download-path
18273 @kindex show download-path
18274 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
18276 @item set board-address @var{addr}
18277 @kindex set board-address
18278 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
18279 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
18281 @item show board-address
18282 @kindex show board-address
18283 Show the current IP address of the target board.
18285 @item set server-address @var{addr}
18286 @kindex set server-address
18287 @cindex download server address (M32R)
18288 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
18291 @item show server-address
18292 @kindex show server-address
18293 Display the IP address of the download server.
18295 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18296 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
18297 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
18298 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
18299 executable file is uploaded.
18301 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18302 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
18303 Test the @code{upload} command.
18306 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
18311 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
18312 This command resets the SDI connection.
18316 This command shows the SDI connection status.
18319 @kindex debug_chaos
18320 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
18321 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
18323 @item use_debug_dma
18324 @kindex use_debug_dma
18325 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
18328 @kindex use_mon_code
18329 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
18332 @kindex use_ib_break
18333 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
18335 @item use_dbt_break
18336 @kindex use_dbt_break
18337 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
18343 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
18344 target command for the following ROM monitor.
18348 @kindex target dbug
18349 @item target dbug @var{dev}
18350 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
18355 @subsection MicroBlaze
18356 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
18357 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
18359 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
18360 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
18361 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
18362 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
18363 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
18364 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
18365 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
18366 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
18367 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
18368 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
18369 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
18371 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
18374 @item target remote :1234
18375 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
18376 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
18378 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
18379 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
18380 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
18383 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
18385 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
18386 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
18388 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
18389 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
18392 @node MIPS Embedded
18393 @subsection MIPS Embedded
18395 @cindex MIPS boards
18396 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
18397 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
18398 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
18401 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
18404 @item target mips @var{port}
18405 @kindex target mips @var{port}
18406 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
18407 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
18408 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
18409 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
18410 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
18411 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
18413 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
18414 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
18418 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
18419 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
18420 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
18421 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
18425 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
18426 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
18427 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
18428 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
18429 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
18431 @item target pmon @var{port}
18432 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
18435 @item target ddb @var{port}
18436 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
18437 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
18439 @item target lsi @var{port}
18440 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
18441 LSI variant of PMON.
18443 @kindex target r3900
18444 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
18445 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
18447 @kindex target array
18448 @item target array @var{dev}
18449 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
18455 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
18458 @item set mipsfpu double
18459 @itemx set mipsfpu single
18460 @itemx set mipsfpu none
18461 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
18462 @itemx show mipsfpu
18463 @kindex set mipsfpu
18464 @kindex show mipsfpu
18465 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
18466 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
18467 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
18468 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
18469 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
18470 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
18471 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
18472 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
18473 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
18474 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
18475 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
18476 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
18477 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
18479 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
18480 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
18481 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
18483 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
18484 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
18486 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
18487 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
18488 @itemx show timeout
18489 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
18490 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
18491 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
18492 @kindex set timeout
18493 @kindex show timeout
18494 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
18495 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
18496 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
18497 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
18498 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
18499 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
18500 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
18501 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
18502 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
18503 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
18505 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
18506 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
18507 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
18508 to run before stopping.
18510 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
18511 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18512 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
18513 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
18514 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
18515 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
18517 @item show syn-garbage-limit
18518 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18519 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
18520 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
18522 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
18523 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18524 @cindex remote monitor prompt
18525 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
18526 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
18536 @item show monitor-prompt
18537 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18538 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
18541 @item set monitor-warnings
18542 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18543 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
18544 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
18545 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
18546 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
18548 @item show monitor-warnings
18549 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18550 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
18552 @item pmon @var{command}
18553 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
18554 @cindex send PMON command
18555 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
18556 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
18559 @node OpenRISC 1000
18560 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
18561 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
18563 @cindex or1k boards
18564 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
18565 about platform and commands.
18569 @kindex target jtag
18570 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
18572 Connects to remote JTAG server.
18573 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
18574 connected via parallel port to the board.
18576 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
18579 @item or1ksim @var{command}
18580 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
18581 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
18583 @kindex info or1k spr
18584 @item info or1k spr
18585 Displays spr groups.
18587 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
18588 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
18589 Displays register names in selected group.
18591 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
18592 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
18593 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
18594 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
18595 Shows information about specified spr register.
18598 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
18599 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
18600 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
18601 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
18602 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
18605 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
18606 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
18607 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
18608 triggers can be set using:
18611 Load effective address/data
18613 Store effective address/data
18615 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
18620 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
18621 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
18623 @code{htrace} commands:
18624 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
18627 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
18628 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
18629 or Data. For example:
18631 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18633 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18637 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
18639 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
18640 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
18642 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
18643 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
18645 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
18646 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
18648 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
18649 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
18652 @item htrace enable
18653 @itemx htrace disable
18654 Enables/disables the HW trace.
18656 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
18657 Clears currently recorded trace data.
18659 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
18660 will be written there.
18662 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
18663 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
18665 @item htrace mode continuous
18666 Set continuous trace mode.
18668 @item htrace mode suspend
18669 Set suspend trace mode.
18673 @node PowerPC Embedded
18674 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
18676 @cindex DVC register
18677 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
18678 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
18681 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
18682 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
18685 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
18686 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
18687 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
18688 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
18689 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
18692 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
18693 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
18694 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
18695 watching variables of scalar types.
18697 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
18698 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
18701 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
18702 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
18705 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
18708 @kindex set powerpc
18709 @item set powerpc soft-float
18710 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
18711 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
18712 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
18713 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18715 @item set powerpc vector-abi
18716 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
18717 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
18718 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
18719 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
18720 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
18721 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
18722 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18724 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
18725 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
18726 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
18727 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
18728 address of its first byte.
18730 @kindex target dink32
18731 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
18732 DINK32 ROM monitor.
18734 @kindex target ppcbug
18735 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
18736 @kindex target ppcbug1
18737 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
18738 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
18741 @item target sds @var{dev}
18742 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
18745 @cindex SDS protocol
18746 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
18750 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
18751 @kindex set sdstimeout
18752 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
18753 default is 2 seconds.
18755 @item show sdstimeout
18756 @kindex show sdstimeout
18757 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
18759 @item sds @var{command}
18760 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
18761 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
18766 @subsection HP PA Embedded
18770 @kindex target op50n
18771 @item target op50n @var{dev}
18772 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
18774 @kindex target w89k
18775 @item target w89k @var{dev}
18776 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
18781 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
18785 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
18786 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
18787 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18788 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
18789 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
18792 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
18793 @kindex remotetimeout
18794 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
18795 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18796 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
18799 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
18800 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
18801 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
18802 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
18803 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
18806 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
18809 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
18812 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
18815 @cindex running, on Sparclet
18817 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18818 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
18819 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
18821 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18828 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
18829 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
18830 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
18831 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
18834 @node Sparclet File
18835 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
18837 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
18840 (gdbslet) file prog
18844 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
18845 @value{GDBN} locates
18846 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
18848 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
18849 files will be searched as well.
18850 @value{GDBN} locates
18851 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
18852 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
18854 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
18857 prog: No such file or directory.
18860 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
18861 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
18862 @code{target} command again.
18864 @node Sparclet Connection
18865 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
18867 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
18868 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
18871 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
18872 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
18873 main () at ../prog.c:3
18877 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18883 @node Sparclet Download
18884 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
18886 @cindex download to Sparclet
18887 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
18888 you can use the @value{GDBN}
18889 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
18890 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
18892 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
18893 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
18894 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
18895 of each of the file's sections.
18896 For instance, if the program
18897 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
18898 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18901 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
18902 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
18905 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
18906 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
18907 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
18909 @node Sparclet Execution
18910 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
18912 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
18913 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
18914 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
18915 manual for the list of commands.
18919 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
18921 Starting program: prog
18922 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
18923 3 char *symarg = 0;
18925 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
18930 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
18934 @kindex target sparclite
18935 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
18936 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
18937 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
18938 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
18944 @subsection Zilog Z8000
18947 @cindex simulator, Z8000
18948 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
18950 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
18953 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
18954 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
18955 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
18956 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
18959 @item target sim @var{args}
18961 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
18962 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
18963 options, specify them via @var{args}.
18967 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
18968 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
18969 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
18970 to run your program, and so on.
18972 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
18973 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
18974 additional items of information as specially named registers:
18979 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
18982 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
18985 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
18989 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
18990 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
18991 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
18992 simulated clock ticks.
18995 @subsection Atmel AVR
18998 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
18999 following AVR-specific commands:
19002 @item info io_registers
19003 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
19004 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
19005 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
19006 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
19013 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
19014 following CRIS-specific commands:
19017 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
19018 @cindex CRIS version
19019 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
19020 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
19021 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
19023 @item show cris-version
19024 Show the current CRIS version.
19026 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
19027 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
19028 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
19029 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
19032 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
19033 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
19035 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
19037 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
19038 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
19039 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
19041 @item show cris-mode
19042 Show the current CRIS mode.
19046 @subsection Renesas Super-H
19049 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
19054 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
19055 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
19057 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
19058 @kindex set sh calling-convention
19059 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
19060 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
19061 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
19062 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
19063 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
19064 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
19065 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
19066 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
19067 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
19068 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
19070 @item show sh calling-convention
19071 @kindex show sh calling-convention
19072 Show the current calling convention setting.
19077 @node Architectures
19078 @section Architectures
19080 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
19081 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
19088 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
19089 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19094 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
19097 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
19098 @kindex set struct-convention
19099 @cindex struct return convention
19100 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
19101 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
19102 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
19103 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
19104 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
19105 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
19106 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
19107 be returned in a register.
19109 @item show struct-convention
19110 @kindex show struct-convention
19111 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
19120 @kindex set rstack_high_address
19121 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
19122 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
19123 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
19124 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
19125 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
19126 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
19127 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
19128 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
19129 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
19130 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
19131 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
19134 @kindex show rstack_high_address
19135 @item show rstack_high_address
19136 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
19144 See the following section.
19149 @cindex stack on Alpha
19150 @cindex stack on MIPS
19151 @cindex Alpha stack
19153 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
19154 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
19155 find the beginning of a function.
19157 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
19158 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
19159 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
19160 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
19164 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
19165 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
19166 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
19167 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
19168 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
19169 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
19170 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
19171 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
19173 @item show heuristic-fence-post
19174 Display the current limit.
19178 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
19179 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
19181 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
19185 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
19186 @kindex set mips abi
19187 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
19188 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
19189 values of @var{arg} are:
19193 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
19204 @item show mips abi
19205 @kindex show mips abi
19206 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
19209 @itemx show mipsfpu
19210 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
19212 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
19213 @kindex set mips mask-address
19214 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
19215 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
19216 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
19217 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
19218 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
19220 @item show mips mask-address
19221 @kindex show mips mask-address
19222 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
19225 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19226 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19227 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
19228 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
19229 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
19230 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
19232 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19233 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
19234 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
19236 @item set debug mips
19237 @kindex set debug mips
19238 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
19239 target code in @value{GDBN}.
19241 @item show debug mips
19242 @kindex show debug mips
19243 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
19249 @cindex HPPA support
19251 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
19252 following special commands:
19255 @item set debug hppa
19256 @kindex set debug hppa
19257 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
19258 messages are to be displayed.
19260 @item show debug hppa
19261 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
19263 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
19264 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
19265 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
19266 given @var{address}.
19272 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19273 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
19276 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
19277 it provides the following special commands:
19280 @item info spu event
19282 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
19283 and pending event status.
19285 @item info spu signal
19286 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
19287 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
19288 notification channels.
19290 @item info spu mailbox
19291 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
19292 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
19293 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
19296 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
19297 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
19298 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
19300 @item info spu proxydma
19301 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
19302 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
19303 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
19307 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
19308 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
19312 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
19314 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
19315 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
19316 function. The default is @code{off}.
19318 @item show spu stop-on-load
19320 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
19322 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
19323 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
19324 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
19325 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
19326 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
19327 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
19329 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
19330 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
19335 @subsection PowerPC
19336 @cindex PowerPC architecture
19338 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
19339 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
19340 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
19341 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
19342 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
19344 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
19345 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
19346 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
19348 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
19349 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
19352 @node Controlling GDB
19353 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
19355 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
19356 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
19357 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
19362 * Editing:: Command editing
19363 * Command History:: Command history
19364 * Screen Size:: Screen size
19365 * Numbers:: Numbers
19366 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
19367 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
19368 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
19369 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
19377 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
19378 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
19379 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
19380 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
19381 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
19382 which one you are talking to.
19384 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
19385 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
19386 or a prompt that does not.
19390 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
19391 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
19393 @kindex show prompt
19395 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
19399 @section Command Editing
19401 @cindex command line editing
19403 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
19404 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
19405 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
19406 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
19407 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
19408 debugging sessions.
19410 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
19411 command @code{set}.
19414 @kindex set editing
19417 @itemx set editing on
19418 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
19420 @item set editing off
19421 Disable command line editing.
19423 @kindex show editing
19425 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
19428 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
19429 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
19431 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
19432 @xref{Command Line Editing},
19434 for more details about the Readline
19435 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
19436 encouraged to read that chapter.
19438 @node Command History
19439 @section Command History
19440 @cindex command history
19442 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
19443 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
19444 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
19447 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
19448 package, to provide the history facility.
19449 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
19450 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
19452 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
19453 @xref{Using History Interactively},
19455 for the detailed description of the History library.
19457 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
19458 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
19459 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
19460 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
19461 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
19462 pressed on a line by itself.
19464 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
19465 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
19466 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
19467 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
19469 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
19473 @cindex history substitution
19474 @cindex history file
19475 @kindex set history filename
19476 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
19477 @item set history filename @var{fname}
19478 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
19479 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
19480 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
19481 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
19482 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
19483 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
19484 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
19487 @cindex save command history
19488 @kindex set history save
19489 @item set history save
19490 @itemx set history save on
19491 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
19492 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
19494 @item set history save off
19495 Stop recording command history in a file.
19497 @cindex history size
19498 @kindex set history size
19499 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
19500 @item set history size @var{size}
19501 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
19502 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
19503 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
19506 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
19507 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
19508 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
19510 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
19511 @xref{Event Designators},
19515 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
19516 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
19517 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
19518 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
19519 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
19520 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
19521 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
19522 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
19524 The commands to control history expansion are:
19527 @item set history expansion on
19528 @itemx set history expansion
19529 @kindex set history expansion
19530 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
19532 @item set history expansion off
19533 Disable history expansion.
19536 @kindex show history
19538 @itemx show history filename
19539 @itemx show history save
19540 @itemx show history size
19541 @itemx show history expansion
19542 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
19543 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
19548 @kindex show commands
19549 @cindex show last commands
19550 @cindex display command history
19551 @item show commands
19552 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
19554 @item show commands @var{n}
19555 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
19557 @item show commands +
19558 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
19562 @section Screen Size
19563 @cindex size of screen
19564 @cindex pauses in output
19566 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
19567 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
19568 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
19569 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
19570 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
19571 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
19572 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
19573 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
19575 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
19576 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
19577 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
19578 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
19579 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
19586 @kindex show height
19587 @item set height @var{lpp}
19589 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
19591 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
19592 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
19593 commands display the current settings.
19595 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
19596 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
19597 file or to an editor buffer.
19599 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
19600 from wrapping its output.
19602 @item set pagination on
19603 @itemx set pagination off
19604 @kindex set pagination
19605 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
19606 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
19607 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
19608 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
19610 @item show pagination
19611 @kindex show pagination
19612 Show the current pagination mode.
19617 @cindex number representation
19618 @cindex entering numbers
19620 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
19621 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
19622 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
19623 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
19624 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
19625 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
19626 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
19627 both input and output with the commands described below.
19630 @kindex set input-radix
19631 @item set input-radix @var{base}
19632 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
19633 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19634 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
19638 set input-radix 012
19639 set input-radix 10.
19640 set input-radix 0xa
19644 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
19645 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
19646 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
19647 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
19648 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
19651 @kindex set output-radix
19652 @item set output-radix @var{base}
19653 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
19654 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19655 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
19657 @kindex show input-radix
19658 @item show input-radix
19659 Display the current default base for numeric input.
19661 @kindex show output-radix
19662 @item show output-radix
19663 Display the current default base for numeric display.
19665 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
19669 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
19670 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
19671 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
19672 default value of 10.
19677 @section Configuring the Current ABI
19679 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
19680 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
19681 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
19688 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
19689 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
19690 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
19691 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
19692 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
19693 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
19694 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
19699 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
19702 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
19704 @item set osabi @var{abi}
19705 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
19708 @cindex float promotion
19710 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
19711 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
19712 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
19713 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
19714 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
19715 @code{double} and then passed.
19717 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
19718 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
19719 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
19722 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
19723 @item set coerce-float-to-double
19724 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
19725 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
19726 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
19728 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
19729 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
19732 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
19733 @item show coerce-float-to-double
19734 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
19738 @kindex show cp-abi
19739 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
19740 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
19741 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
19742 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
19743 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
19744 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
19745 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
19746 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
19747 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
19748 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
19753 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
19756 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
19758 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
19759 @itemx set cp-abi auto
19760 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
19763 @node Messages/Warnings
19764 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
19766 @cindex verbose operation
19767 @cindex optional warnings
19768 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
19769 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
19770 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
19771 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
19773 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
19774 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
19775 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
19778 @kindex set verbose
19779 @item set verbose on
19780 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19782 @item set verbose off
19783 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19785 @kindex show verbose
19787 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
19790 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
19791 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
19792 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
19797 @kindex set complaints
19798 @item set complaints @var{limit}
19799 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
19800 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
19801 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
19802 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
19804 @kindex show complaints
19805 @item show complaints
19806 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
19810 @anchor{confirmation requests}
19811 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
19812 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
19813 you try to run a program which is already running:
19817 The program being debugged has been started already.
19818 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
19821 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
19822 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
19826 @kindex set confirm
19828 @cindex confirmation
19829 @cindex stupid questions
19830 @item set confirm off
19831 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
19832 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
19833 automatically disables confirmation requests.
19835 @item set confirm on
19836 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
19838 @kindex show confirm
19840 Displays state of confirmation requests.
19844 @cindex command tracing
19845 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
19846 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
19847 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
19848 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
19851 @kindex set trace-commands
19852 @cindex command scripts, debugging
19853 @item set trace-commands on
19854 Enable command tracing.
19855 @item set trace-commands off
19856 Disable command tracing.
19857 @item show trace-commands
19858 Display the current state of command tracing.
19861 @node Debugging Output
19862 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
19863 @cindex optional debugging messages
19865 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
19866 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
19867 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
19868 section documents those commands.
19871 @kindex set exec-done-display
19872 @item set exec-done-display
19873 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
19874 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
19875 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
19876 @kindex show exec-done-display
19877 @item show exec-done-display
19878 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
19881 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
19882 @cindex architecture debugging info
19883 @item set debug arch
19884 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
19886 @item show debug arch
19887 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
19888 @item set debug aix-thread
19889 @cindex AIX threads
19890 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
19892 @item show debug aix-thread
19893 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
19894 @item set debug dwarf2-die
19895 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
19896 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
19897 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
19898 A value of zero turns off the display.
19899 @item show debug dwarf2-die
19900 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
19901 @item set debug displaced
19902 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
19903 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
19904 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
19905 @item show debug displaced
19906 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
19907 related to displaced stepping.
19908 @item set debug event
19909 @cindex event debugging info
19910 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
19912 @item show debug event
19913 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
19915 @item set debug expression
19916 @cindex expression debugging info
19917 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
19918 expression parsing. The default is off.
19919 @item show debug expression
19920 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
19921 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
19922 @item set debug frame
19923 @cindex frame debugging info
19924 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
19926 @item show debug frame
19927 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
19929 @item set debug gnu-nat
19930 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
19931 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
19932 @item show debug gnu-nat
19933 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
19934 @item set debug infrun
19935 @cindex inferior debugging info
19936 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
19937 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
19938 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
19939 @item show debug infrun
19940 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
19941 @item set debug jit
19942 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
19943 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
19944 @item show debug jit
19945 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
19946 @item set debug lin-lwp
19947 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
19948 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
19949 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
19950 @item show debug lin-lwp
19951 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
19952 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
19953 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
19954 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
19955 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
19956 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
19957 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
19958 @item set debug observer
19959 @cindex observer debugging info
19960 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
19961 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
19962 @item show debug observer
19963 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
19964 @item set debug overload
19965 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
19966 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
19967 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
19969 @item show debug overload
19970 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
19972 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
19973 @cindex debug expression parser
19974 @item set debug parser
19975 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
19976 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
19977 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
19978 details. The default is off.
19979 @item show debug parser
19980 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
19981 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
19982 @cindex serial connections, debugging
19983 @cindex debug remote protocol
19984 @cindex remote protocol debugging
19985 @cindex display remote packets
19986 @item set debug remote
19987 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
19988 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
19989 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
19990 @item show debug remote
19991 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
19992 @item set debug serial
19993 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
19995 @item show debug serial
19996 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
19998 @item set debug solib-frv
19999 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
20000 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
20001 @item show debug solib-frv
20002 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
20004 @item set debug target
20005 @cindex target debugging info
20006 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
20007 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
20008 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
20009 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
20010 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
20011 @item show debug target
20012 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
20014 @item set debug timestamp
20015 @cindex timestampping debugging info
20016 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
20017 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
20019 @item show debug timestamp
20020 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
20022 @item set debugvarobj
20023 @cindex variable object debugging info
20024 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
20025 info. The default is off.
20026 @item show debugvarobj
20027 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
20029 @item set debug xml
20030 @cindex XML parser debugging
20031 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
20032 @item show debug xml
20033 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
20036 @node Other Misc Settings
20037 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
20038 @cindex miscellaneous settings
20041 @kindex set interactive-mode
20042 @item set interactive-mode
20043 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
20044 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
20045 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
20046 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
20047 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
20048 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
20049 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
20050 is, non-interactively otherwise.
20052 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
20053 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
20054 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
20055 inside a cygwin window.
20057 @kindex show interactive-mode
20058 @item show interactive-mode
20059 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
20062 @node Extending GDB
20063 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
20064 @cindex extending GDB
20066 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
20067 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
20068 Python scripting language.
20070 To facilitate the use of these extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
20071 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
20072 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
20073 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
20074 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20075 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
20077 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
20081 @kindex set script-extension
20082 @kindex show script-extension
20083 @item set script-extension off
20084 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20086 @item set script-extension soft
20087 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20088 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
20089 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
20090 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
20092 @item set script-extension strict
20093 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20094 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
20095 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
20097 @item show script-extension
20098 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
20103 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
20104 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20108 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
20110 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
20111 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
20112 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
20116 * Define:: How to define your own commands
20117 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
20118 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
20119 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
20123 @subsection User-defined Commands
20125 @cindex user-defined command
20126 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
20127 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
20128 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
20129 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
20130 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
20131 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
20135 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
20140 To execute the command use:
20147 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
20148 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
20149 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
20152 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
20153 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
20154 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
20155 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
20160 print $arg0 + $arg1
20163 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
20171 @item define @var{commandname}
20172 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
20173 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
20174 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
20175 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
20176 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
20177 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
20179 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
20180 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
20181 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
20184 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
20185 @item document @var{commandname}
20186 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
20187 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
20188 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
20189 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
20190 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
20191 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
20193 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
20194 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
20195 does not change the documentation.
20197 @kindex dont-repeat
20198 @cindex don't repeat command
20200 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
20201 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
20202 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
20204 @kindex help user-defined
20205 @item help user-defined
20206 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
20211 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
20212 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
20213 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
20214 definitions for all user-defined commands.
20216 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
20217 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
20218 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
20219 @item show max-user-call-depth
20220 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
20221 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
20222 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
20223 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
20226 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
20227 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
20229 When user-defined commands are executed, the
20230 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
20231 stops execution of the user-defined command.
20233 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
20234 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
20235 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
20236 messages when used in a user-defined command.
20239 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
20240 @cindex command hooks
20241 @cindex hooks, for commands
20242 @cindex hooks, pre-command
20245 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
20246 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
20247 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
20248 before that command.
20250 @cindex hooks, post-command
20252 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
20253 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
20254 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
20255 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
20256 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
20258 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
20259 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
20261 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
20262 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
20264 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
20265 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
20266 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
20267 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
20268 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
20270 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
20271 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
20276 handle SIGALRM nopass
20280 handle SIGALRM pass
20283 define hook-continue
20284 handle SIGALRM pass
20288 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
20289 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
20297 define hookpost-echo
20301 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
20302 <<<---Hello World--->>>
20307 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
20308 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
20309 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
20310 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
20312 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
20313 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
20314 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
20316 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
20317 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
20318 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
20320 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
20321 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
20323 @node Command Files
20324 @subsection Command Files
20326 @cindex command files
20327 @cindex scripting commands
20328 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
20329 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
20330 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
20331 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
20334 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
20335 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
20336 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
20337 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
20338 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
20342 @cindex execute commands from a file
20343 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
20344 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
20347 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
20348 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
20349 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
20350 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
20351 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
20353 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
20354 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
20355 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
20356 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
20357 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
20358 is not relevant to scripts.
20360 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
20361 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
20362 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
20363 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
20364 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
20365 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
20366 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
20367 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
20368 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
20369 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
20370 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
20371 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
20372 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
20373 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
20375 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
20376 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
20377 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
20379 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
20380 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
20381 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
20382 when called from command files.
20384 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
20385 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
20386 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
20387 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
20391 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
20394 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
20395 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
20396 would be directed to @file{log}.
20398 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
20399 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
20400 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
20401 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
20402 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
20403 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
20404 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
20405 conditionally, etc.
20412 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
20413 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
20414 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
20415 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
20416 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
20417 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
20418 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
20422 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
20423 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
20424 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
20425 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
20426 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
20427 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
20431 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
20432 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
20435 @kindex loop_continue
20436 @item loop_continue
20437 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
20438 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
20439 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
20440 the controlling expression.
20442 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
20444 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
20445 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
20450 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
20452 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
20453 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
20454 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
20455 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
20460 @item echo @var{text}
20461 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
20462 @c because it is not in ANSI.
20463 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
20464 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
20465 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
20466 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
20467 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
20468 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
20469 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
20470 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
20471 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
20473 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
20474 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
20477 echo This is some text\n\
20478 which is continued\n\
20479 onto several lines.\n
20482 produces the same output as
20485 echo This is some text\n
20486 echo which is continued\n
20487 echo onto several lines.\n
20491 @item output @var{expression}
20492 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
20493 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
20494 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
20497 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
20498 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
20499 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
20500 Formats}, for more information.
20503 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
20504 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
20505 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
20506 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
20507 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
20508 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
20509 executing the code below:
20512 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
20515 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
20516 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
20517 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
20518 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
20519 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
20522 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
20525 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
20528 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
20529 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
20530 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
20534 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
20537 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
20541 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
20542 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
20545 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
20549 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
20552 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
20556 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
20557 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
20558 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
20559 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
20561 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
20562 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
20563 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
20564 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
20567 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
20568 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
20569 together with a floating point specifier.
20574 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
20577 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
20580 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
20583 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
20584 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
20585 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
20587 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
20588 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
20590 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
20592 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
20596 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
20597 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
20598 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
20603 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20604 @cindex python scripting
20605 @cindex scripting with python
20607 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
20608 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
20609 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
20611 @cindex python directory
20612 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
20613 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
20614 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
20615 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
20616 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
20617 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
20620 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
20621 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
20622 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
20623 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
20626 @node Python Commands
20627 @subsection Python Commands
20628 @cindex python commands
20629 @cindex commands to access python
20631 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
20632 and one related setting:
20636 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
20637 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
20639 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
20640 argument as a Python command. For example:
20643 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
20647 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
20648 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
20649 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
20650 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
20651 containing @code{end}. For example:
20654 (@value{GDBP}) python
20656 End with a line saying just "end".
20662 @kindex maint set python print-stack
20663 @item maint set python print-stack
20664 By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
20665 in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
20666 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
20667 printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
20671 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
20675 @item source @file{script-name}
20676 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
20677 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
20678 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
20680 @item python execfile ("script-name")
20681 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
20682 and thus is always available.
20686 @subsection Python API
20688 @cindex programming in python
20690 @cindex python stdout
20691 @cindex python pagination
20692 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
20693 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
20694 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
20695 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
20696 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
20699 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
20700 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
20701 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
20702 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
20703 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
20704 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
20705 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
20706 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
20707 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
20708 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
20709 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
20710 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
20711 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
20712 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
20713 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
20714 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
20715 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
20716 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
20717 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
20718 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
20722 @subsubsection Basic Python
20724 @cindex python functions
20725 @cindex python module
20727 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
20728 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
20729 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
20730 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
20732 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
20734 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
20737 @findex gdb.execute
20738 @defun execute command [from_tty] [to_string]
20739 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
20740 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
20741 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
20743 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
20744 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
20745 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
20747 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
20748 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
20749 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
20750 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
20751 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
20752 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
20753 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
20756 @findex gdb.breakpoints
20758 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
20759 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
20762 @findex gdb.parameter
20763 @defun parameter parameter
20764 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
20765 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
20766 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
20767 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
20769 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
20770 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
20771 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
20772 type, and returned.
20775 @findex gdb.history
20776 @defun history number
20777 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
20778 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
20779 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
20780 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
20781 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
20782 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
20783 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
20786 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
20787 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
20790 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
20791 @defun parse_and_eval expression
20792 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
20793 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20794 @var{expression} must be a string.
20796 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
20797 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
20798 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
20799 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
20800 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20803 @findex gdb.post_event
20804 @defun post_event event
20805 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
20806 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
20807 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
20808 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
20809 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
20810 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
20812 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
20813 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
20814 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
20818 (@value{GDBP}) python
20822 > def __init__(self, message):
20823 > self.message = message;
20824 > def __call__(self):
20825 > gdb.write(self.message)
20827 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
20829 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
20831 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
20833 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
20835 >MyThread1().start()
20836 >MyThread2().start()
20838 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
20843 @defun write string
20844 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
20845 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
20846 call this function.
20851 Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
20852 @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
20856 @findex gdb.target_charset
20857 @defun target_charset
20858 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
20859 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
20860 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
20863 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
20864 @defun target_wide_charset
20865 Return the name of the current target wide character set
20866 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
20867 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
20871 @findex gdb.solib_name
20872 @defun solib_name address
20873 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
20874 as a string, or @code{None}.
20877 @findex gdb.decode_line
20878 @defun decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
20879 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
20880 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
20881 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
20882 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
20883 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
20884 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
20885 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
20886 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
20887 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
20888 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
20891 @node Exception Handling
20892 @subsubsection Exception Handling
20893 @cindex python exceptions
20894 @cindex exceptions, python
20896 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
20897 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
20898 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
20899 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
20900 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
20901 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
20902 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
20905 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
20906 Traceback (most recent call last):
20907 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
20908 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
20911 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
20912 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
20913 Python exception depends on the error.
20917 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
20918 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
20919 versions of @value{GDBN}.
20921 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
20922 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
20924 @item gdb.MemoryError
20925 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
20926 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
20928 @item KeyboardInterrupt
20929 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
20930 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
20933 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
20934 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
20935 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
20938 @findex gdb.GdbError
20939 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
20940 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
20941 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
20942 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
20943 to handle this case. Example:
20947 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
20948 > """Greet the whole world."""
20949 > def __init__ (self):
20950 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
20951 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
20952 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
20953 > if len (argv) != 0:
20954 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
20955 > print "Hello, World!"
20958 (gdb) hello-world 42
20959 hello-world takes no arguments
20962 @node Values From Inferior
20963 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
20964 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
20965 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
20967 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
20968 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
20969 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
20970 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
20971 fetching values when necessary.
20973 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
20974 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
20975 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
20982 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
20983 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
20985 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
20986 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
20987 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
20988 can access its @code{foo} element with:
20991 bar = some_val['foo']
20994 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
20996 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
20997 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
20998 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
21001 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
21002 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
21003 execute this function, call it like so:
21006 result = some_val (10,20)
21009 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
21012 The following attributes are provided:
21015 @defivar Value address
21016 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
21017 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
21018 this attribute holds @code{None}.
21021 @cindex optimized out value in Python
21022 @defivar Value is_optimized_out
21023 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
21024 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
21027 @defivar Value type
21028 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
21029 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
21032 @defivar Value dynamic_type
21033 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
21034 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
21035 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
21036 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
21037 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
21038 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
21039 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
21042 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
21043 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
21044 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
21045 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
21049 The following methods are provided:
21052 @defmethod Value __init__ @var{val}
21053 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
21054 this object initializer. Specifically:
21057 @item Python boolean
21058 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
21061 @item Python integer
21062 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
21063 current architecture.
21066 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
21067 current architecture.
21070 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
21071 current architecture.
21073 @item Python string
21074 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
21077 @item @code{gdb.Value}
21078 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
21080 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
21081 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
21082 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
21083 its result is used.
21087 @defmethod Value cast type
21088 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
21089 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
21090 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
21091 reason, this method throws an exception.
21094 @defmethod Value dereference
21095 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
21096 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
21097 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
21104 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
21105 @code{foo} points to like this:
21108 bar = foo.dereference ()
21111 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
21112 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
21115 @defmethod Value dynamic_cast type
21116 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
21117 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
21120 @defmethod Value reinterpret_cast type
21121 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
21122 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
21125 @defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
21126 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
21127 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
21128 throw an exception.
21130 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
21131 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
21134 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
21135 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
21136 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
21137 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
21138 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
21140 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
21141 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
21142 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
21143 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
21144 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
21145 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
21146 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
21147 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
21148 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
21150 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
21151 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
21153 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
21154 fetched and converted to the given length.
21157 @defmethod Value lazy_string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
21158 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
21159 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
21160 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
21162 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
21163 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
21164 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
21165 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
21166 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
21168 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
21169 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
21170 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
21171 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
21172 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
21173 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
21175 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
21176 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
21177 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
21178 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
21182 @node Types In Python
21183 @subsubsection Types In Python
21184 @cindex types in Python
21185 @cindex Python, working with types
21188 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
21191 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21194 @findex gdb.lookup_type
21195 @defun lookup_type name [block]
21196 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
21197 type to look up. It must be a string.
21199 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
21200 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
21202 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
21203 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
21206 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
21210 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
21211 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
21214 @defivar Type sizeof
21215 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
21216 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
21217 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
21221 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
21222 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
21223 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
21224 @code{None} is returned.
21228 The following methods are provided:
21231 @defmethod Type fields
21232 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
21233 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
21234 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
21235 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
21236 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
21237 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
21239 Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
21242 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
21243 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
21244 position of the field.
21247 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
21250 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
21251 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
21252 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
21254 @item is_base_class
21255 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
21256 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
21257 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
21258 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
21261 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
21262 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
21263 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
21266 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
21267 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
21271 @defmethod Type array @var{n1} @r{[}@var{n2}@r{]}
21272 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
21273 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
21274 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
21275 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
21276 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
21277 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
21280 @defmethod Type const
21281 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
21282 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
21285 @defmethod Type volatile
21286 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
21287 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
21290 @defmethod Type unqualified
21291 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
21292 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
21296 @defmethod Type range
21297 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
21298 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
21299 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
21300 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
21303 @defmethod Type reference
21304 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
21308 @defmethod Type pointer
21309 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
21313 @defmethod Type strip_typedefs
21314 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
21315 after removing all layers of typedefs.
21318 @defmethod Type target
21319 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
21322 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
21323 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
21324 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
21325 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
21326 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
21327 target type is the aliased type.
21329 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
21333 @defmethod Type template_argument n [block]
21334 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
21335 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
21336 @var{n}th template argument.
21338 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
21339 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
21341 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
21342 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
21347 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
21348 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
21349 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21352 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
21353 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
21354 @item TYPE_CODE_PTR
21355 The type is a pointer.
21357 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
21358 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
21359 @item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
21360 The type is an array.
21362 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21363 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21364 @item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21365 The type is a structure.
21367 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
21368 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
21369 @item TYPE_CODE_UNION
21370 The type is a union.
21372 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21373 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21374 @item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21375 The type is an enum.
21377 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21378 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21379 @item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21380 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
21382 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21383 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21384 @item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21385 The type is a function.
21387 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
21388 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
21389 @item TYPE_CODE_INT
21390 The type is an integer type.
21392 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
21393 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
21394 @item TYPE_CODE_FLT
21395 A floating point type.
21397 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
21398 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
21399 @item TYPE_CODE_VOID
21400 The special type @code{void}.
21402 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
21403 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
21404 @item TYPE_CODE_SET
21407 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21408 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21409 @item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21410 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
21412 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
21413 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
21414 @item TYPE_CODE_STRING
21415 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
21416 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
21418 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21419 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21420 @item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21423 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21424 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21425 @item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21426 An unknown or erroneous type.
21428 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21429 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21430 @item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21431 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
21433 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21434 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21435 @item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21436 A pointer-to-member-function.
21438 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21439 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21440 @item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21441 A pointer-to-member.
21443 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
21444 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
21445 @item TYPE_CODE_REF
21448 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21449 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21450 @item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21453 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21454 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21455 @item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21458 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21459 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21460 @item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21461 A complex float type.
21463 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21464 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21465 @item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21466 A typedef to some other type.
21468 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21469 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21470 @item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21471 A C@t{++} namespace.
21473 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21474 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21475 @item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21476 A decimal floating point type.
21478 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21479 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21480 @item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21481 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
21482 convenience functions.
21485 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
21486 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
21488 @node Pretty Printing API
21489 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
21491 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
21493 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
21494 specific interface, defined here.
21496 @defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
21497 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
21498 children of the pretty-printer's value.
21500 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
21501 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
21502 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
21503 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
21504 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
21506 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
21507 as though the value has no children.
21510 @defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
21511 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
21512 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
21513 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
21516 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
21519 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
21523 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
21524 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
21525 @code{set print array}.
21528 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
21529 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
21533 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
21534 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
21535 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
21536 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
21537 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
21538 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
21542 @defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
21543 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
21544 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
21546 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
21547 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
21548 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
21549 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
21550 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
21551 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
21552 the result of @code{children}.
21554 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
21556 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
21557 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
21558 another pretty-printer.
21560 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
21561 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
21562 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
21563 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
21564 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
21566 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
21567 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
21569 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
21572 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
21573 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
21575 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
21576 @defun default_visualizer value
21577 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
21578 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
21579 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
21582 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
21583 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
21585 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
21586 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
21587 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
21588 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
21589 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
21590 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
21593 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
21594 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
21595 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
21596 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
21599 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
21600 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
21601 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
21602 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
21603 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
21604 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
21605 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
21606 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
21607 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
21608 object is returned.
21610 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
21611 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
21612 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
21613 object is returned.
21615 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
21616 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
21617 the pretty-printer is out of date.
21619 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
21620 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
21621 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
21622 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
21623 with a broken printer.
21625 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
21626 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
21627 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
21628 the printer is enabled.
21630 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
21631 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
21632 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
21634 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
21635 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
21637 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
21638 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
21642 class StdStringPrinter(object):
21643 "Print a std::string"
21645 def __init__(self, val):
21648 def to_string(self):
21649 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
21651 def display_hint(self):
21655 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
21656 example above might be written.
21659 def str_lookup_function(val):
21660 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
21661 if lookup_tag == None:
21663 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
21664 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
21665 return StdStringPrinter(val)
21669 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
21670 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
21671 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
21672 returns @code{None}.
21674 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
21675 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
21676 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
21677 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
21678 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
21681 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
21682 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
21683 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
21684 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
21685 the current objfile.
21687 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
21688 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
21689 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
21690 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
21691 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
21692 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
21693 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
21694 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
21697 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
21698 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
21701 def register_printers(objfile):
21702 objfile.pretty_printers.add(str_lookup_function)
21706 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
21709 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
21710 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
21713 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
21714 There are a few things that can be improved on.
21715 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
21716 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
21717 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
21719 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
21720 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
21721 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
21722 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
21723 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
21724 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
21726 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
21727 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
21728 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
21730 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
21733 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
21734 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
21737 Here are the printers:
21741 """Print a foo object."""
21743 def __init__(self, val):
21746 def to_string(self):
21747 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
21748 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
21751 """Print a bar object."""
21753 def __init__(self, val):
21756 def to_string(self):
21757 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
21758 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
21761 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
21762 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
21763 the object that handles the lookup.
21766 import gdb.printing
21768 def build_pretty_printer():
21769 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
21771 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
21772 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
21776 And here is the autoload support:
21779 import gdb.printing
21781 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
21782 gdb.current_objfile(),
21783 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
21786 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
21787 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
21790 (gdb) info pretty-printer
21797 @node Inferiors In Python
21798 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
21799 @cindex inferiors in python
21801 @findex gdb.Inferior
21802 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
21803 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
21804 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
21805 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
21807 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21811 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
21814 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
21817 @defivar Inferior num
21818 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
21821 @defivar Inferior pid
21822 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
21826 @defivar Inferior was_attached
21827 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
21828 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
21832 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
21835 @defmethod Inferior threads
21836 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
21837 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
21838 return an empty tuple.
21841 @findex gdb.read_memory
21842 @defmethod Inferior read_memory address length
21843 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
21844 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
21845 or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
21849 @findex gdb.write_memory
21850 @defmethod Inferior write_memory address buffer @r{[}length@r{]}
21851 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
21852 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
21853 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
21854 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
21855 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
21858 @findex gdb.search_memory
21859 @defmethod Inferior search_memory address length pattern
21860 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
21861 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
21862 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
21863 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
21864 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
21865 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
21866 the pattern could not be found.
21870 @node Threads In Python
21871 @subsubsection Threads In Python
21872 @cindex threads in python
21874 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
21875 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
21876 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
21878 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21881 @findex gdb.selected_thread
21882 @defun selected_thread
21883 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
21884 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
21887 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
21890 @defivar InferiorThread name
21891 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
21892 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
21893 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
21894 returns @code{None}.
21896 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
21897 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
21898 user-specified thread name.
21901 @defivar InferiorThread num
21902 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
21905 @defivar InferiorThread ptid
21906 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
21907 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
21908 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
21909 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
21910 does not use that identifier.
21914 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
21917 @defmethod InferiorThread switch
21918 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
21922 @defmethod InferiorThread is_stopped
21923 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
21926 @defmethod InferiorThread is_running
21927 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
21930 @defmethod InferiorThread is_exited
21931 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
21935 @node Commands In Python
21936 @subsubsection Commands In Python
21938 @cindex commands in python
21939 @cindex python commands
21940 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
21941 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
21942 class, most commonly using a subclass.
21944 @defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
21945 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
21946 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
21947 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
21949 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
21950 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
21951 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
21952 an exception is raised.
21954 There is no support for multi-line commands.
21956 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
21957 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
21958 new command in the help system.
21960 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
21961 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
21962 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
21963 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
21964 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
21965 error will occur when completion is attempted.
21967 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
21968 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
21971 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
21972 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
21973 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
21974 not documented.'' is used.
21977 @cindex don't repeat Python command
21978 @defmethod Command dont_repeat
21979 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
21980 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
21981 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
21982 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
21985 @defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
21986 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
21988 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
21989 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
21991 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
21992 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
21993 that the command came from elsewhere.
21995 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
21996 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
21998 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
21999 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
22000 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
22001 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
22002 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
22003 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
22007 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
22008 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
22013 @cindex completion of Python commands
22014 @defmethod Command complete text word
22015 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
22016 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
22017 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
22018 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
22021 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
22022 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
22023 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
22024 using a word-breaking heuristic.
22026 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
22029 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
22030 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
22031 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
22032 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
22033 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
22034 sequence are ignored.
22037 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
22038 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
22039 function is invoked, and its result is used.
22042 All other results are treated as though there were no available
22047 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
22048 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
22049 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
22050 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
22051 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
22052 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
22055 @findex COMMAND_NONE
22056 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
22058 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
22059 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
22061 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
22062 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
22063 @item COMMAND_RUNNING
22064 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
22065 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
22066 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22067 commands in this category.
22069 @findex COMMAND_DATA
22070 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
22072 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
22073 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
22074 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
22077 @findex COMMAND_STACK
22078 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
22079 @item COMMAND_STACK
22080 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
22081 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
22082 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
22083 list of commands in this category.
22085 @findex COMMAND_FILES
22086 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
22087 @item COMMAND_FILES
22088 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
22089 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
22090 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22091 commands in this category.
22093 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
22094 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
22095 @item COMMAND_SUPPORT
22096 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
22097 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
22098 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
22099 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
22100 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22101 commands in this category.
22103 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
22104 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
22105 @item COMMAND_STATUS
22106 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
22107 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
22108 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
22109 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
22111 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
22112 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
22113 @item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
22114 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
22115 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
22116 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
22119 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
22120 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
22121 @item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
22122 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
22123 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
22124 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22125 commands in this category.
22127 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
22128 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
22129 @item COMMAND_OBSCURE
22130 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
22131 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
22132 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
22133 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
22136 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
22137 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
22138 @item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
22139 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
22140 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
22141 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
22142 commands in this category.
22145 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
22146 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
22147 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
22148 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
22151 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
22152 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
22153 @item COMPLETE_NONE
22154 This constant means that no completion should be done.
22156 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
22157 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
22158 @item COMPLETE_FILENAME
22159 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
22161 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
22162 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
22163 @item COMPLETE_LOCATION
22164 This constant means that location completion should be done.
22165 @xref{Specify Location}.
22167 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
22168 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
22169 @item COMPLETE_COMMAND
22170 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
22173 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
22174 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
22175 @item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
22176 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
22180 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
22181 implemented in Python:
22184 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
22185 """Greet the whole world."""
22187 def __init__ (self):
22188 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
22190 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
22191 print "Hello, World!"
22196 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
22197 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
22198 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
22199 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
22201 @node Parameters In Python
22202 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
22204 @cindex parameters in python
22205 @cindex python parameters
22206 @tindex gdb.Parameter
22208 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
22209 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
22212 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
22213 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
22215 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
22216 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
22217 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
22218 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
22219 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
22221 @defmethod Parameter __init__ name @var{command-class} @var{parameter-class} @r{[}@var{enum-sequence}@r{]}
22222 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
22223 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
22224 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
22226 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
22227 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
22228 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
22229 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
22230 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
22231 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
22232 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
22234 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
22235 can be found, an exception is raised.
22237 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
22238 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
22239 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
22241 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
22242 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
22243 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
22246 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
22247 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
22248 represent the possible values for the parameter.
22250 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
22251 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
22253 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
22254 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
22255 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
22258 @defivar Parameter set_doc
22259 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
22260 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
22261 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
22265 @defivar Parameter show_doc
22266 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
22267 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
22268 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
22272 @defivar Parameter value
22273 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
22274 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
22275 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
22279 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
22280 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
22284 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
22285 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
22286 @item PARAM_BOOLEAN
22287 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
22288 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
22290 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
22291 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
22292 @item PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
22293 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
22294 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
22295 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
22297 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
22298 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
22299 @item PARAM_UINTEGER
22300 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
22301 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
22303 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
22304 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
22305 @item PARAM_INTEGER
22306 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
22307 to mean ``unlimited''.
22309 @findex PARAM_STRING
22310 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
22312 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
22313 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
22314 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
22317 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
22318 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
22319 @item PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
22320 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
22321 passed through untranslated.
22323 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
22324 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
22325 @item PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
22326 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
22328 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
22329 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
22330 @item PARAM_FILENAME
22331 The value is a filename. This is just like
22332 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
22334 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
22335 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
22336 @item PARAM_ZINTEGER
22337 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
22338 is interpreted as itself.
22341 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
22343 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
22344 constants provided when the parameter is created.
22347 @node Functions In Python
22348 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
22350 @cindex writing convenience functions
22351 @cindex convenience functions in python
22352 @cindex python convenience functions
22353 @tindex gdb.Function
22355 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
22356 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
22357 class @code{gdb.Function}.
22359 @defmethod Function __init__ name
22360 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
22361 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
22362 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
22363 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
22364 the given @var{name}.
22366 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
22367 string for the new class.
22370 @defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
22371 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
22372 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
22373 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
22374 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
22375 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
22376 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
22377 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
22379 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
22380 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
22381 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
22384 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
22385 be implemented in Python:
22388 class Greet (gdb.Function):
22389 """Return string to greet someone.
22390 Takes a name as argument."""
22392 def __init__ (self):
22393 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
22395 def invoke (self, name):
22396 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
22401 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
22402 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
22403 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
22404 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
22406 @node Progspaces In Python
22407 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
22409 @cindex progspaces in python
22410 @tindex gdb.Progspace
22412 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
22413 of an address space.
22414 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
22415 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
22416 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
22417 about program spaces.
22419 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
22422 @findex gdb.current_progspace
22423 @defun current_progspace
22424 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
22425 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
22428 @findex gdb.progspaces
22430 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
22433 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
22436 @defivar Progspace filename
22437 The file name of the progspace as a string.
22440 @defivar Progspace pretty_printers
22441 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
22442 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
22443 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
22444 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
22445 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
22449 @node Objfiles In Python
22450 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
22452 @cindex objfiles in python
22453 @tindex gdb.Objfile
22455 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
22456 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
22457 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
22458 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
22459 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
22461 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
22464 @findex gdb.current_objfile
22465 @defun current_objfile
22466 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
22467 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
22468 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
22469 this function returns @code{None}.
22472 @findex gdb.objfiles
22474 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
22475 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
22478 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
22481 @defivar Objfile filename
22482 The file name of the objfile as a string.
22485 @defivar Objfile pretty_printers
22486 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
22487 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
22488 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
22489 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
22490 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
22494 @node Frames In Python
22495 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
22497 @cindex frames in python
22498 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
22499 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
22500 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
22501 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
22502 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
22503 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
22505 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
22509 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
22513 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
22515 @findex gdb.selected_frame
22516 @defun selected_frame
22517 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
22520 @findex gdb.newest_frame
22521 @defun newest_frame
22522 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
22525 @defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
22526 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
22527 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
22528 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
22531 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
22534 @defmethod Frame is_valid
22535 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
22536 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
22537 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
22538 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
22541 @defmethod Frame name
22542 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
22546 @defmethod Frame type
22547 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
22549 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
22550 An ordinary stack frame.
22552 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
22553 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
22554 inferior function call.
22556 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
22557 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
22558 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
22560 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
22561 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
22562 it calls into a signal handler.
22564 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
22565 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
22567 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
22568 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
22573 @defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
22574 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
22575 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
22576 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
22577 function to a string.
22580 @defmethod Frame pc
22581 Returns the frame's resume address.
22584 @defmethod Frame block
22585 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
22588 @defmethod Frame function
22589 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
22590 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
22593 @defmethod Frame older
22594 Return the frame that called this frame.
22597 @defmethod Frame newer
22598 Return the frame called by this frame.
22601 @defmethod Frame find_sal
22602 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
22603 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
22606 @defmethod Frame read_var variable @r{[}block@r{]}
22607 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
22608 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
22609 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
22610 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
22611 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
22612 @code{gdb.Block} object.
22615 @defmethod Frame select
22616 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
22621 @node Blocks In Python
22622 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
22624 @cindex blocks in python
22627 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
22628 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
22629 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
22630 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
22631 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
22632 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
22635 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22638 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
22639 @defun block_for_pc pc
22640 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
22641 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
22642 will return @code{None}.
22645 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
22648 @defivar Block start
22649 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
22653 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
22656 @defivar Block function
22657 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
22658 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
22659 attribute is not writable.
22662 @defivar Block superblock
22663 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
22664 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22668 @node Symbols In Python
22669 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
22671 @cindex symbols in python
22674 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
22675 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
22676 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
22677 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
22679 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22682 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
22683 @defun lookup_symbol name [block] [domain]
22684 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
22685 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
22688 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
22689 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
22690 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
22691 @code{gdb.Block} object. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
22692 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
22693 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
22697 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
22700 @defivar Symbol symtab
22701 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
22702 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
22703 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
22706 @defivar Symbol name
22707 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
22710 @defivar Symbol linkage_name
22711 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
22712 This attribute is not writable.
22715 @defivar Symbol print_name
22716 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
22717 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
22718 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
22721 @defivar Symbol addr_class
22722 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
22723 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
22724 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
22727 @defivar Symbol is_argument
22728 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
22731 @defivar Symbol is_constant
22732 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
22735 @defivar Symbol is_function
22736 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
22739 @defivar Symbol is_variable
22740 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
22744 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
22745 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
22748 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
22749 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
22750 @item SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
22751 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
22752 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
22753 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
22754 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
22755 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
22756 @item SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
22757 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
22759 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
22760 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
22761 @item SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
22762 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
22763 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
22764 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
22765 @item SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
22766 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
22767 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
22768 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
22769 @item SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
22770 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
22771 contains everything minus functions and types.
22772 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
22773 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
22774 @item SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
22775 This domain contains all functions.
22776 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
22777 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
22778 @item SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
22779 This domain contains all types.
22782 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
22783 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
22786 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
22787 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
22788 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
22789 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
22790 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
22791 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
22792 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
22793 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
22794 Value is constant int.
22795 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
22796 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
22797 @item SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
22798 Value is at a fixed address.
22799 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
22800 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
22801 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
22802 Value is in a register.
22803 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
22804 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
22805 @item SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
22806 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
22807 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
22808 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
22809 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
22810 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
22811 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
22812 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
22813 offset, not the value itself.
22814 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
22815 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
22816 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
22817 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
22818 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
22820 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
22821 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
22822 @item SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
22823 Value is a local variable.
22824 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
22825 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
22826 @item SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
22827 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
22829 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
22830 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
22831 @item SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
22833 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
22834 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
22835 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
22836 Value is a byte-sequence.
22837 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
22838 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
22839 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
22840 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
22841 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
22843 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
22844 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
22845 @item SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
22846 The value does not actually exist in the program.
22847 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
22848 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
22849 @item SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
22850 The value's address is a computed location.
22853 @node Symbol Tables In Python
22854 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
22856 @cindex symbol tables in python
22858 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
22860 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
22861 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
22862 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
22863 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
22864 @xref{Frames In Python}.
22866 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
22867 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
22869 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
22872 @defivar Symtab_and_line symtab
22873 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
22874 This attribute is not writable.
22877 @defivar Symtab_and_line pc
22878 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
22882 @defivar Symtab_and_line line
22883 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
22884 attribute is not writable.
22888 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
22891 @defivar Symtab filename
22892 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
22895 @defivar Symtab objfile
22896 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
22897 This attribute is not writable.
22901 The following methods are provided:
22904 @defmethod Symtab fullname
22905 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
22909 @node Breakpoints In Python
22910 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
22912 @cindex breakpoints in python
22913 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
22915 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
22918 @defmethod Breakpoint __init__ spec @r{[}type@r{]} @r{[}wp_class@r{]} @r{[}internal@r{]}
22919 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
22920 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
22921 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
22922 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
22923 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
22924 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
22925 either: @code{BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
22926 defaults to @code{BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
22927 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
22928 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
22929 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
22930 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
22931 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
22932 @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
22933 assumed to be a @var{WP_WRITE} class.
22936 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
22941 @findex gdb.WP_READ
22943 Read only watchpoint.
22946 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
22948 Write only watchpoint.
22951 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
22953 Read/Write watchpoint.
22956 @defmethod Breakpoint is_valid
22957 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
22958 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
22959 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
22960 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
22961 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
22962 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
22965 @defmethod Breakpoint delete
22966 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
22967 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
22968 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
22971 @defivar Breakpoint enabled
22972 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
22973 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
22976 @defivar Breakpoint silent
22977 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
22978 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
22980 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
22981 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
22982 @code{silent} attribute.
22985 @defivar Breakpoint thread
22986 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
22987 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
22988 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
22991 @defivar Breakpoint task
22992 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
22993 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
22994 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
22998 @defivar Breakpoint ignore_count
22999 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
23000 This attribute is writable.
23003 @defivar Breakpoint number
23004 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
23005 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
23008 @defivar Breakpoint type
23009 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
23010 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
23014 @defivar Breakpoint visible
23015 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
23016 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
23017 attribute is not writable.
23020 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
23024 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
23025 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
23026 @item BP_BREAKPOINT
23027 Normal code breakpoint.
23029 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
23030 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
23031 @item BP_WATCHPOINT
23032 Watchpoint breakpoint.
23034 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
23035 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
23036 @item BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
23037 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
23039 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
23040 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
23041 @item BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
23042 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
23044 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
23045 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
23046 @item BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
23047 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
23050 @defivar Breakpoint hit_count
23051 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
23052 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
23055 @defivar Breakpoint location
23056 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
23057 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
23058 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
23059 attribute is not writable.
23062 @defivar Breakpoint expression
23063 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
23064 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
23065 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
23066 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
23069 @defivar Breakpoint condition
23070 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
23071 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
23072 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
23075 @defivar Breakpoint commands
23076 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
23077 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
23078 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
23079 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
23082 @node Lazy Strings In Python
23083 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
23085 @cindex lazy strings in python
23086 @tindex gdb.LazyString
23088 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
23089 encoded until it is needed.
23091 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
23092 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
23093 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
23094 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
23095 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
23096 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
23097 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
23098 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
23099 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
23101 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
23103 @defmethod LazyString value
23104 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
23105 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
23106 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
23107 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
23110 @defivar LazyString address
23111 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
23115 @defivar LazyString length
23116 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
23117 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
23118 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
23121 @defivar LazyString encoding
23122 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
23123 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
23124 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
23125 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
23129 @defivar LazyString type
23130 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
23131 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
23132 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
23133 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
23138 @subsection Auto-loading
23139 @cindex auto-loading, Python
23141 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
23142 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
23143 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
23144 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
23147 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
23148 * .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
23149 * Which flavor to choose?::
23152 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
23153 debugging commands and scripts.
23155 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled.
23158 @kindex set auto-load-scripts
23159 @item set auto-load-scripts [yes|no]
23160 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
23162 @kindex show auto-load-scripts
23163 @item show auto-load-scripts
23164 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
23167 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
23168 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
23169 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
23170 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
23172 @node objfile-gdb.py file
23173 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
23174 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
23176 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
23177 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
23178 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
23179 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
23180 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
23181 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
23183 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
23184 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
23185 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
23186 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
23188 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
23189 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
23190 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
23191 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
23192 is the object file's real name, as described above.
23194 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
23195 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
23196 @var{objfile} is opened.
23197 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
23198 is evaluated more than once.
23200 @node .debug_gdb_scripts section
23201 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
23202 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
23204 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
23205 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
23206 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
23207 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
23209 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
23210 current directory and then along the source search path
23211 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
23212 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
23213 directory is not relevant to scripts.
23215 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
23216 for example, this GCC macro:
23219 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
23220 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
23222 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
23224 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
23230 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
23233 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
23236 The script name may include directories if desired.
23238 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
23239 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
23241 @node Which flavor to choose?
23242 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
23244 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
23245 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
23247 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
23251 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
23254 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
23256 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
23257 in the source search path.
23258 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
23259 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
23262 Doesn't require source code additions.
23265 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
23269 Works with static linking.
23271 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
23272 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
23273 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
23274 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
23277 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
23279 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
23280 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
23283 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
23285 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
23286 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
23287 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
23288 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
23289 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
23290 top of the source tree to the source search path.
23293 @node Python modules
23294 @subsection Python modules
23295 @cindex python modules
23297 @value{GDBN} comes with a module to assist writing Python code.
23300 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
23301 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
23305 @subsubsection gdb.printing
23306 @cindex gdb.printing
23308 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
23312 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
23313 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
23314 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
23315 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
23317 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
23318 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
23319 corresponding API for the subprinters.
23321 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
23322 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
23323 regular expressions.
23324 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
23326 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer})
23327 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
23331 @subsubsection gdb.types
23334 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
23335 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
23338 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
23339 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
23340 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
23345 typedef const int const_int;
23347 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
23348 int main () @{ return 0; @}
23355 (gdb) python import gdb.types
23356 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
23357 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
23361 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
23362 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
23363 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
23365 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
23366 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
23370 @chapter Command Interpreters
23371 @cindex command interpreters
23373 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
23374 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
23375 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
23377 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
23378 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
23379 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
23380 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
23382 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
23383 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
23384 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
23385 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
23389 @cindex console interpreter
23390 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
23391 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
23392 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
23395 @cindex mi interpreter
23396 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
23397 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
23398 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
23402 @cindex mi2 interpreter
23403 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
23406 @cindex mi1 interpreter
23407 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
23411 @cindex invoke another interpreter
23412 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
23413 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
23414 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
23415 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
23416 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
23417 the IDE inoperable!
23419 @kindex interpreter-exec
23420 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
23421 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
23422 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
23423 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
23426 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
23429 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
23430 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
23433 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
23435 @cindex Text User Interface
23438 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
23439 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
23440 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
23441 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
23442 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
23445 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
23446 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
23447 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
23448 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
23449 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
23452 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
23453 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
23454 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
23455 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
23456 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
23457 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
23460 @section TUI Overview
23462 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
23466 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
23467 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
23468 managed using readline.
23471 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
23472 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
23475 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
23478 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
23479 when their values change.
23482 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
23483 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
23484 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
23485 indicates the breakpoint type:
23489 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
23492 Breakpoint which was never hit.
23495 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
23498 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
23501 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
23505 Breakpoint is enabled.
23508 Breakpoint is disabled.
23511 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
23512 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
23515 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
23516 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
23527 source and assembly,
23530 source and registers, or
23533 assembly and registers.
23536 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
23540 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
23541 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
23544 Gives the current process or thread number.
23545 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
23548 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
23549 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
23550 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
23551 the string @code{??} is displayed.
23554 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
23555 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
23558 Indicates the current program counter address.
23562 @section TUI Key Bindings
23563 @cindex TUI key bindings
23565 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
23566 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
23567 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
23569 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
23570 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
23572 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
23573 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
23582 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
23583 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
23584 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
23585 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
23586 The screen is then refreshed.
23590 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
23591 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
23592 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
23594 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
23598 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
23599 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
23600 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
23601 previous layout and the new one.
23603 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
23607 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
23608 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
23609 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
23611 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
23615 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
23616 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
23619 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
23624 Scroll the active window one page up.
23628 Scroll the active window one page down.
23632 Scroll the active window one line up.
23636 Scroll the active window one line down.
23640 Scroll the active window one column left.
23644 Scroll the active window one column right.
23648 Refresh the screen.
23651 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
23652 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
23653 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
23654 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
23655 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
23657 @node TUI Single Key Mode
23658 @section TUI Single Key Mode
23659 @cindex TUI single key mode
23661 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
23662 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
23663 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
23666 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23670 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23674 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23678 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23682 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23684 exit the SingleKey mode.
23686 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23690 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23694 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23698 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23702 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23707 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
23708 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
23709 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
23710 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
23711 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
23712 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
23716 @section TUI-specific Commands
23717 @cindex TUI commands
23719 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
23720 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
23721 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
23722 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
23724 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
23725 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
23726 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
23727 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
23728 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
23733 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
23737 Display the next layout.
23740 Display the previous layout.
23743 Display the source window only.
23746 Display the assembly window only.
23749 Display the source and assembly window.
23752 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
23756 Make the next window active for scrolling.
23759 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
23762 Make the source window active for scrolling.
23765 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
23768 Make the register window active for scrolling.
23771 Make the command window active for scrolling.
23775 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
23777 @item tui reg float
23779 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
23781 @item tui reg general
23782 Show the general registers in the register window.
23785 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
23786 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
23787 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
23788 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
23790 @item tui reg system
23791 Show the system registers in the register window.
23795 Update the source window and the current execution point.
23797 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
23798 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
23800 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
23801 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
23804 @item tabset @var{nchars}
23806 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
23809 @node TUI Configuration
23810 @section TUI Configuration Variables
23811 @cindex TUI configuration variables
23813 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
23816 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
23817 @kindex set tui border-kind
23818 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
23819 The possible values are the following:
23822 Use a space character to draw the border.
23825 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
23828 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
23829 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
23832 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
23833 @kindex set tui border-mode
23834 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
23835 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
23836 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
23837 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
23840 Use normal attributes to display the border.
23846 Use reverse video mode.
23849 Use half bright mode.
23851 @item half-standout
23852 Use half bright and standout mode.
23855 Use extra bright or bold mode.
23857 @item bold-standout
23858 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
23863 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
23866 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
23867 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
23868 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
23871 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
23872 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
23873 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
23874 created Emacs buffer.
23875 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
23877 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
23882 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
23885 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
23886 and output done by the program you are debugging.
23888 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
23889 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
23892 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
23893 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
23894 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
23898 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
23900 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
23901 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
23902 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
23903 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
23906 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
23907 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
23910 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
23911 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
23912 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
23913 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
23915 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
23916 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
23917 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
23918 sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
23919 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
23920 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
23921 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
23922 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
23923 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
23925 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
23926 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
23927 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
23928 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
23930 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
23931 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
23932 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
23933 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
23936 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
23937 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
23941 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
23944 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
23945 update the display window to show the current file and location.
23948 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
23949 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
23950 to show the current file and location.
23953 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
23954 display window accordingly.
23957 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
23958 @code{finish} command.
23961 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
23965 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
23966 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
23967 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
23970 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
23971 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
23974 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
23975 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
23977 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
23978 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
23979 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
23980 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
23981 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
23982 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
23983 speedbar displays watch expressions.
23985 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
23986 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
23987 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
23988 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
23991 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
23992 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
23993 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
23994 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
23995 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
23996 to correspond properly with the code.
23998 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
23999 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
24002 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
24003 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
24005 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
24009 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
24010 called the @code{epoch}
24011 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
24012 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
24013 each value is printed in its own window.
24018 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
24020 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
24022 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
24023 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
24024 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
24025 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
24026 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
24027 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
24029 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
24030 in the form of a reference manual.
24032 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
24033 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
24034 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
24036 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
24038 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
24039 This chapter uses the following notation:
24043 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
24046 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
24047 it may or may not be given.
24050 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
24051 may repeat zero or more times.
24054 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
24055 may repeat one or more times.
24058 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
24062 @heading Dependencies
24066 * GDB/MI General Design::
24067 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
24068 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
24069 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
24070 * GDB/MI Output Records::
24071 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
24072 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
24073 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
24074 * GDB/MI Program Context::
24075 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
24076 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
24077 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
24078 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
24079 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
24080 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
24081 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
24082 * GDB/MI File Commands::
24084 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
24085 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
24086 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
24088 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
24089 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
24090 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
24093 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24094 @node GDB/MI General Design
24095 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
24096 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
24098 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
24099 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
24100 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
24101 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
24102 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
24103 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
24104 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
24105 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
24106 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
24107 a command and reported as part of that command response.
24109 The important examples of notifications are:
24113 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
24114 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
24115 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
24116 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
24117 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
24118 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
24119 command itself was successfully executed.
24122 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
24123 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
24124 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
24125 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
24126 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
24127 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
24130 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
24131 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
24132 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
24133 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
24134 orthogonal frontend design.
24138 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
24139 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
24140 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
24141 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
24142 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
24143 the user interface.
24147 * Context management::
24148 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
24152 @node Context management
24153 @subsection Context management
24155 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
24156 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
24157 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
24158 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
24159 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
24160 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
24161 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
24162 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
24163 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
24165 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
24166 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
24167 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
24168 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
24169 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
24170 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
24171 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
24172 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
24173 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
24174 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
24175 for thread and frame to operate on.
24177 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
24178 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
24179 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
24180 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
24181 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
24182 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
24183 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
24184 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
24185 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
24186 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
24188 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
24189 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
24190 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
24191 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
24192 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
24193 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
24194 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
24195 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
24196 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
24197 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
24198 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
24199 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
24200 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
24201 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
24202 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
24203 @samp{--frame} options.
24205 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
24206 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
24208 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
24209 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
24210 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
24211 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
24212 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
24213 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
24214 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
24215 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
24216 @code{-list-target-features} command.
24218 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
24219 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
24220 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
24221 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
24222 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
24225 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
24226 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
24227 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
24228 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
24229 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
24230 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
24231 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
24232 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
24233 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
24234 @samp{--thread} option).
24236 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
24237 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
24238 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
24239 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
24241 @node Thread groups
24242 @subsection Thread groups
24243 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
24244 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
24245 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
24246 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
24247 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
24249 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
24250 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
24251 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
24252 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
24253 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
24254 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
24255 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
24258 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
24259 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
24260 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
24261 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
24262 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
24263 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
24264 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
24265 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
24266 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
24267 the members of specific thread group.
24269 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
24270 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
24271 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
24272 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
24273 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
24274 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
24275 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
24276 after attaching to that thread group.
24278 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
24279 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
24280 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
24281 such thread groups.
24283 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24284 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
24285 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
24288 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
24289 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
24292 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
24293 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
24295 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
24296 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
24298 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
24299 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
24301 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
24302 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
24303 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
24305 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
24306 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
24307 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
24309 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
24310 "any sequence of digits"
24312 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
24313 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
24315 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
24316 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
24318 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
24319 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
24321 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
24322 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
24323 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
24325 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
24326 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
24328 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
24337 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
24338 output is described below.
24341 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
24345 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
24346 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
24347 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
24348 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
24349 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
24356 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
24359 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
24362 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
24363 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
24365 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
24366 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
24367 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
24368 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
24369 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
24370 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
24372 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
24373 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
24377 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
24378 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
24380 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
24381 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
24383 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
24384 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
24386 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
24387 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
24389 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
24390 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
24392 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
24393 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
24395 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
24396 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
24398 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
24399 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
24401 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
24402 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
24404 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
24405 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
24406 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
24408 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
24409 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
24411 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
24412 @code{ @var{string} }
24414 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
24415 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
24417 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
24418 @code{@var{c-string}}
24420 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
24421 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
24423 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
24424 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
24425 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
24427 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
24428 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
24430 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
24431 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
24433 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
24434 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
24436 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
24437 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
24439 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
24442 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
24443 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
24451 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
24454 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
24455 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
24456 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
24457 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
24458 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
24459 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
24463 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24464 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
24465 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
24466 prefixed by @samp{+}.
24469 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24470 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
24471 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
24475 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24476 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
24477 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
24478 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
24481 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24482 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
24483 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
24484 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
24487 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24488 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
24489 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
24492 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24493 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
24494 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
24495 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
24498 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
24499 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
24505 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
24506 details about the various output records.
24508 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24509 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
24510 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
24512 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
24513 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
24515 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
24516 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
24517 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
24518 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
24519 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
24520 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
24522 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
24523 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
24524 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
24526 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24527 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
24528 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
24529 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
24531 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
24532 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
24534 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
24535 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
24536 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
24537 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
24540 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
24541 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
24542 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
24543 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
24547 New MI commands may be added.
24550 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
24553 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
24554 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
24556 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
24557 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
24559 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
24560 @c resolve inconsistencies.
24563 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
24564 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
24565 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
24566 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
24567 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
24569 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
24572 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
24573 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
24574 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
24575 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
24576 @cindex mailing lists
24578 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24579 @node GDB/MI Output Records
24580 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
24583 * GDB/MI Result Records::
24584 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
24585 * GDB/MI Async Records::
24586 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
24587 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
24590 @node GDB/MI Result Records
24591 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
24593 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24594 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
24595 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
24596 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
24600 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
24601 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
24606 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
24607 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
24608 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
24609 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
24610 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
24611 which threads are resumed.
24615 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
24617 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
24619 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
24624 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
24628 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
24629 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
24631 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
24632 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24633 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
24634 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
24635 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
24637 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
24638 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
24639 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
24640 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
24641 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
24644 @item "~" @var{string-output}
24645 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
24646 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
24648 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
24649 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
24650 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
24651 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
24653 @item "&" @var{string-output}
24654 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
24658 @node GDB/MI Async Records
24659 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
24661 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24662 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
24663 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
24664 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
24665 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
24666 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
24668 The following is the list of possible async records:
24672 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
24673 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
24674 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
24675 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
24676 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
24677 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
24678 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
24679 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
24680 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
24681 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
24683 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
24684 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
24688 @item breakpoint-hit
24689 A breakpoint was reached.
24690 @item watchpoint-trigger
24691 A watchpoint was triggered.
24692 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
24693 A read watchpoint was triggered.
24694 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
24695 An access watchpoint was triggered.
24696 @item function-finished
24697 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
24698 @item location-reached
24699 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
24700 @item watchpoint-scope
24701 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
24702 @item end-stepping-range
24703 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
24704 similar CLI command was accomplished.
24705 @item exited-signalled
24706 The inferior exited because of a signal.
24708 The inferior exited.
24709 @item exited-normally
24710 The inferior exited normally.
24711 @item signal-received
24712 A signal was received by the inferior.
24715 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
24716 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
24717 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
24718 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
24719 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
24720 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
24721 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
24722 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
24723 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
24724 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
24725 if such information is not available.
24727 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
24728 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
24729 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
24730 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
24731 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
24732 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
24733 cannot be used in any way.
24735 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
24736 A thread group became associated with a running program,
24737 either because the program was just started or the thread group
24738 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
24739 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
24740 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
24742 @itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
24743 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
24744 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
24745 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
24748 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
24749 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
24750 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
24751 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
24752 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
24754 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
24755 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
24756 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
24757 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
24758 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
24759 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
24760 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
24762 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
24763 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
24766 @item =library-loaded,...
24767 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
24768 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
24769 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
24770 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
24771 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
24772 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
24773 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
24774 @var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
24775 library are loaded. The @var{thread-group} field, if present,
24776 specifies the id of the thread group in whose context the library was loaded.
24777 If the field is absent, it means the library was loaded in the context
24778 of all present thread groups.
24780 @item =library-unloaded,...
24781 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
24782 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
24783 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
24784 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
24785 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
24786 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
24791 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
24792 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
24794 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
24795 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
24800 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
24801 zero. This field is always present.
24804 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
24805 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
24808 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
24811 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
24812 address. This field may be absent.
24815 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
24819 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
24820 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
24824 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
24825 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
24827 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
24828 uses a tuple with the following fields:
24832 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
24836 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
24839 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
24840 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
24841 frontend. This field is optional.
24844 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
24845 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
24848 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
24849 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
24853 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24854 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
24855 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
24856 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
24858 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
24859 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
24860 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
24861 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
24863 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
24864 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
24866 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
24868 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
24869 information of the breakpoint.
24872 -> -break-insert main
24873 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
24874 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
24875 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
24879 @subheading Program Execution
24881 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
24882 reason that execution stopped.
24888 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
24889 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
24890 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
24891 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
24896 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
24900 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
24902 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
24910 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
24911 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
24912 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
24913 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
24914 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
24915 fails to exit in reasonable time.
24917 @subheading A Bad Command
24919 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
24923 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
24928 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24929 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
24930 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
24932 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
24933 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
24935 @subheading Motivation
24937 The motivation for this collection of commands.
24939 @subheading Introduction
24941 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
24943 @subheading Commands
24945 For each command in the block, the following is described:
24947 @subsubheading Synopsis
24950 -command @var{args}@dots{}
24953 @subsubheading Result
24955 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24957 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
24959 @subsubheading Example
24961 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
24962 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
24965 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24966 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
24967 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
24969 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
24970 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
24971 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
24974 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
24975 @findex -break-after
24977 @subsubheading Synopsis
24980 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
24983 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
24984 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
24985 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
24986 @samp{-break-list} command below.
24988 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24990 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
24992 @subsubheading Example
24997 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
24998 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
24999 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
25006 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25007 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25008 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25009 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25010 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25011 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25012 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25013 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25014 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25015 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
25020 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
25021 @findex -break-catch
25024 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
25025 @findex -break-commands
25027 @subsubheading Synopsis
25030 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
25033 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
25034 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
25035 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
25036 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
25037 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
25038 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
25040 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25042 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
25044 @subsubheading Example
25049 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
25050 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
25051 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
25053 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
25058 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
25059 @findex -break-condition
25061 @subsubheading Synopsis
25064 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
25067 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
25068 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
25069 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
25072 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25074 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
25076 @subsubheading Example
25080 -break-condition 1 1
25084 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25085 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25086 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25087 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25088 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25089 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25090 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25091 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25092 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25093 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
25097 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
25098 @findex -break-delete
25100 @subsubheading Synopsis
25103 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
25106 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
25107 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
25109 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25111 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
25113 @subsubheading Example
25121 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
25122 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25123 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25124 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25125 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25126 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25127 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25132 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
25133 @findex -break-disable
25135 @subsubheading Synopsis
25138 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
25141 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
25142 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
25144 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25146 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
25148 @subsubheading Example
25156 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25157 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25158 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25159 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25160 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25161 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25162 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25163 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
25164 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25165 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
25169 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
25170 @findex -break-enable
25172 @subsubheading Synopsis
25175 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
25178 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
25180 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25182 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
25184 @subsubheading Example
25192 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25193 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25194 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25195 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25196 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25197 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25198 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25199 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25200 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25201 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
25205 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
25206 @findex -break-info
25208 @subsubheading Synopsis
25211 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
25215 Get information about a single breakpoint.
25217 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25219 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
25221 @subsubheading Example
25224 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
25225 @findex -break-insert
25227 @subsubheading Synopsis
25230 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
25231 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
25232 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
25236 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
25243 @item filename:linenum
25244 @item filename:function
25248 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
25252 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
25254 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
25255 @item -c @var{condition}
25256 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
25257 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
25258 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
25260 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
25261 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
25262 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
25263 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
25266 Create a disabled breakpoint.
25268 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
25269 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
25272 @subsubheading Result
25274 The result is in the form:
25277 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
25278 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
25279 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
25280 times="@var{times}"@}
25284 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
25285 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
25286 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
25287 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
25288 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
25289 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
25290 which use the same output).
25292 Note: this format is open to change.
25293 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
25295 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25297 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
25298 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
25300 @subsubheading Example
25305 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
25306 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
25308 -break-insert -t foo
25309 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
25310 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
25313 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25314 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25315 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25316 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25317 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25318 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25319 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25320 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25321 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
25322 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
25323 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
25324 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
25325 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
25327 -break-insert -r foo.*
25328 ~int foo(int, int);
25329 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
25330 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
25334 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
25335 @findex -break-list
25337 @subsubheading Synopsis
25343 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
25347 number of the breakpoint
25349 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
25351 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
25354 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
25356 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
25358 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
25361 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
25364 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
25365 @code{body} field is an empty list.
25367 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25369 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
25371 @subsubheading Example
25376 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25377 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25378 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25379 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25380 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25381 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25382 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25383 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25384 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
25385 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25386 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
25387 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
25391 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
25396 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
25397 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25398 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25399 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25400 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25401 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25402 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25407 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
25408 @findex -break-passcount
25410 @subsubheading Synopsis
25413 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
25416 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
25417 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
25418 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
25419 command @samp{passcount}.
25421 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
25422 @findex -break-watch
25424 @subsubheading Synopsis
25427 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
25430 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
25431 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
25432 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
25433 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
25434 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
25435 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
25436 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
25437 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
25439 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
25440 breakpoints inserted.
25442 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25444 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
25447 @subsubheading Example
25449 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
25454 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
25459 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
25460 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
25461 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
25462 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
25466 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
25467 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
25468 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
25473 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
25478 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
25479 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
25480 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
25481 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25482 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
25487 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
25488 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
25489 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
25490 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25491 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
25495 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
25496 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
25502 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
25505 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25506 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25507 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25508 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25509 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25510 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25511 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25512 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25513 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25514 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25515 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
25516 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
25517 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
25522 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
25523 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
25524 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
25525 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25526 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
25529 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
25530 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25531 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25532 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25533 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25534 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25535 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25536 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25537 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25538 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25539 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
25540 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
25541 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
25545 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
25546 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
25547 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
25548 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25549 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
25552 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
25553 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
25554 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
25555 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
25556 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
25557 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
25558 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
25559 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
25560 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25561 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25562 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
25567 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25568 @node GDB/MI Program Context
25569 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
25571 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
25572 @findex -exec-arguments
25575 @subsubheading Synopsis
25578 -exec-arguments @var{args}
25581 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
25584 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25586 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
25588 @subsubheading Example
25592 -exec-arguments -v word
25599 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
25600 @findex -exec-show-arguments
25602 @subsubheading Synopsis
25605 -exec-show-arguments
25608 Print the arguments of the program.
25610 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25612 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
25614 @subsubheading Example
25619 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
25620 @findex -environment-cd
25622 @subsubheading Synopsis
25625 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
25628 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
25630 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25632 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
25634 @subsubheading Example
25638 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
25644 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
25645 @findex -environment-directory
25647 @subsubheading Synopsis
25650 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
25653 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
25654 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
25655 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
25656 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
25658 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
25659 multiple directories in a single command
25660 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
25661 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
25662 If blanks are needed as
25663 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
25664 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
25665 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
25666 character must not be used
25667 in any directory name.
25668 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
25670 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25672 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
25674 @subsubheading Example
25678 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
25679 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
25681 -environment-directory ""
25682 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
25684 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
25685 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
25687 -environment-directory -r
25688 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
25693 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
25694 @findex -environment-path
25696 @subsubheading Synopsis
25699 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
25702 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
25703 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
25704 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
25705 supplied in addition to the
25706 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
25708 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
25709 multiple directories in a single command
25710 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
25711 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
25712 If blanks are needed as
25713 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
25714 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
25715 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
25716 character must not be used
25717 in any directory name.
25718 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
25721 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25723 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
25725 @subsubheading Example
25730 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
25732 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
25733 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
25735 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
25736 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
25741 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
25742 @findex -environment-pwd
25744 @subsubheading Synopsis
25750 Show the current working directory.
25752 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25754 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
25756 @subsubheading Example
25761 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
25765 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25766 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
25767 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
25770 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
25771 @findex -thread-info
25773 @subsubheading Synopsis
25776 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
25779 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
25780 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
25781 threads. When printing information about all threads,
25782 also reports the current thread.
25784 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25786 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
25789 @subsubheading Result
25791 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
25792 defined for a given thread:
25796 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
25799 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
25802 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
25805 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
25809 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
25810 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
25811 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
25812 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
25816 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
25819 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
25824 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
25828 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
25834 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
25835 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
25839 @subsubheading Example
25844 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
25845 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
25846 args=[]@},state="running"@},
25847 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
25848 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
25849 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
25850 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
25851 state="running"@}],
25852 current-thread-id="1"
25856 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
25857 @findex -thread-list-ids
25859 @subsubheading Synopsis
25865 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
25866 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
25868 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
25869 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
25871 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25873 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
25875 @subsubheading Example
25880 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
25881 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
25886 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
25887 @findex -thread-select
25889 @subsubheading Synopsis
25892 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
25895 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
25896 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
25898 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
25899 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
25901 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25903 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
25905 @subsubheading Example
25912 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
25913 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
25917 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
25918 number-of-threads="3"
25921 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
25922 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
25923 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
25924 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
25928 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25929 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
25930 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
25932 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
25933 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
25934 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
25937 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
25938 @findex -exec-continue
25940 @subsubheading Synopsis
25943 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
25946 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
25947 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
25948 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
25949 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
25952 breakpoints or watchpoints
25954 signals or exceptions
25956 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
25958 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
25960 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
25961 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
25962 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
25963 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
25964 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
25965 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
25967 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25969 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
25971 @subsubheading Example
25978 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
25979 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
25985 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
25986 @findex -exec-finish
25988 @subsubheading Synopsis
25991 -exec-finish [--reverse]
25994 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
25995 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
25996 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
25997 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
25998 function was called.
26000 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26002 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
26004 @subsubheading Example
26006 Function returning @code{void}.
26013 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
26014 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
26018 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
26019 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
26026 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
26027 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
26028 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26029 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
26034 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
26035 @findex -exec-interrupt
26037 @subsubheading Synopsis
26040 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
26043 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
26044 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
26045 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
26046 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
26047 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
26049 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
26050 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
26051 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
26052 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
26054 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
26055 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
26056 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
26057 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
26059 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26061 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
26063 @subsubheading Example
26074 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
26075 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
26076 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
26081 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
26085 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
26088 @subsubheading Synopsis
26091 -exec-jump @var{location}
26094 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
26095 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
26096 different forms of @var{location}.
26098 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26100 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
26102 @subsubheading Example
26105 -exec-jump foo.c:10
26106 *running,thread-id="all"
26111 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
26114 @subsubheading Synopsis
26117 -exec-next [--reverse]
26120 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
26121 of the next source line is reached.
26123 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
26124 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
26125 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
26126 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
26127 source line where the function was called.
26130 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26132 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
26134 @subsubheading Example
26140 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
26145 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
26146 @findex -exec-next-instruction
26148 @subsubheading Synopsis
26151 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
26154 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
26155 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
26156 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
26159 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
26160 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
26161 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
26162 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
26163 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
26165 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26167 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
26169 @subsubheading Example
26173 -exec-next-instruction
26177 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26178 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
26183 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
26184 @findex -exec-return
26186 @subsubheading Synopsis
26192 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
26193 Displays the new current frame.
26195 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26197 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
26199 @subsubheading Example
26203 200-break-insert callee4
26204 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
26205 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
26210 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
26211 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
26212 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26213 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
26219 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
26220 args=[@{name="strarg",
26221 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
26222 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26223 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
26228 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
26231 @subsubheading Synopsis
26234 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
26237 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
26238 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
26239 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
26240 the program has exited exceptionally.
26242 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
26243 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
26244 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
26245 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
26247 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26249 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
26251 @subsubheading Examples
26256 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
26261 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
26262 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
26263 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
26268 Program exited normally:
26276 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
26281 Program exited exceptionally:
26289 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
26293 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
26294 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
26298 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
26299 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
26303 @c @subheading -exec-signal
26306 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
26309 @subsubheading Synopsis
26312 -exec-step [--reverse]
26315 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
26316 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
26317 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
26318 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
26319 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
26320 previously executed source line.
26322 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26324 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
26326 @subsubheading Example
26328 Stepping into a function:
26334 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26335 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
26336 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
26337 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
26347 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
26352 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
26353 @findex -exec-step-instruction
26355 @subsubheading Synopsis
26358 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
26361 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
26362 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
26363 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
26364 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
26365 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
26366 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
26369 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26371 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
26373 @subsubheading Example
26377 -exec-step-instruction
26381 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26382 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
26383 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
26385 -exec-step-instruction
26389 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
26390 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
26391 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
26396 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
26397 @findex -exec-until
26399 @subsubheading Synopsis
26402 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
26405 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
26406 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
26407 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
26408 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
26410 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26412 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
26414 @subsubheading Example
26418 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
26422 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
26423 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
26428 @subheading -file-clear
26429 Is this going away????
26432 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26433 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
26434 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
26437 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
26438 @findex -stack-info-frame
26440 @subsubheading Synopsis
26446 Get info on the selected frame.
26448 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26450 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
26451 (without arguments).
26453 @subsubheading Example
26458 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
26459 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26460 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
26464 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
26465 @findex -stack-info-depth
26467 @subsubheading Synopsis
26470 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
26473 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
26474 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
26476 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26478 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
26480 @subsubheading Example
26482 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
26489 -stack-info-depth 4
26492 -stack-info-depth 12
26495 -stack-info-depth 11
26498 -stack-info-depth 13
26503 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
26504 @findex -stack-list-arguments
26506 @subsubheading Synopsis
26509 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
26510 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
26513 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
26514 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
26515 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
26516 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
26517 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
26518 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
26519 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
26520 which case only existing frames will be returned.
26522 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
26523 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
26524 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
26525 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
26526 structures and unions.
26528 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
26529 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
26531 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26533 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
26534 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
26535 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
26537 @subsubheading Example
26544 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
26545 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26546 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
26547 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
26548 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26549 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
26550 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
26551 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26552 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
26553 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
26554 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26555 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
26556 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
26557 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
26558 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
26560 -stack-list-arguments 0
26563 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
26564 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
26565 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
26566 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
26567 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
26569 -stack-list-arguments 1
26572 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
26574 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
26575 frame=@{level="2",args=[
26576 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
26577 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
26578 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
26579 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
26580 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
26581 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
26582 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
26584 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
26585 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
26587 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
26588 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
26589 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
26590 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
26594 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
26597 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
26598 @findex -stack-list-frames
26600 @subsubheading Synopsis
26603 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
26606 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
26611 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
26613 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
26617 File name of the source file where the function lives.
26618 @item @var{fullname}
26619 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
26621 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
26623 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
26624 if the frame's function is not known.
26627 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
26628 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
26629 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
26630 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
26631 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
26632 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
26633 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
26635 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26637 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
26639 @subsubheading Example
26641 Full stack backtrace:
26647 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
26648 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
26649 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26650 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26651 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26652 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26653 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26654 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26655 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26656 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26657 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26658 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26659 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26660 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26661 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26662 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26663 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26664 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26665 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26666 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26667 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26668 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26669 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
26670 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
26674 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
26678 -stack-list-frames 3 5
26680 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26681 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26682 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26683 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26684 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26685 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
26689 Show a single frame:
26693 -stack-list-frames 3 3
26695 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26696 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
26701 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
26702 @findex -stack-list-locals
26704 @subsubheading Synopsis
26707 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
26710 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
26711 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
26712 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
26713 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
26714 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
26715 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
26716 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
26717 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
26720 This command is deprecated in favor of the
26721 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
26723 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26725 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
26727 @subsubheading Example
26731 -stack-list-locals 0
26732 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
26734 -stack-list-locals --all-values
26735 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
26736 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
26737 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
26738 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
26739 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
26743 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
26744 @findex -stack-list-variables
26746 @subsubheading Synopsis
26749 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
26752 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
26753 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
26754 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
26755 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
26756 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
26757 structures and unions.
26759 @subsubheading Example
26763 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
26764 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
26769 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
26770 @findex -stack-select-frame
26772 @subsubheading Synopsis
26775 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
26778 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
26781 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
26782 option to every command.
26784 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26786 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
26787 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
26789 @subsubheading Example
26793 -stack-select-frame 2
26798 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26799 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
26800 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
26804 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
26806 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
26807 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
26808 used by @code{Insight}.
26810 The two main reasons for that are:
26814 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
26817 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
26821 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
26822 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
26823 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
26824 hints about their use.
26826 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
26827 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
26828 least, the following operations:
26831 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
26832 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
26833 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
26834 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
26839 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
26841 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
26843 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
26844 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
26845 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
26846 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
26847 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
26848 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
26849 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
26850 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
26851 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
26852 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
26853 object, or to change display format.
26855 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
26856 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
26857 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
26858 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
26859 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
26860 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
26861 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
26862 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
26863 child will be created.
26865 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
26866 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
26867 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
26868 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
26869 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
26871 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
26872 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
26873 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
26874 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
26875 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
26876 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
26877 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
26878 variables that frontend has created.
26880 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
26881 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
26882 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
26883 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
26884 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
26885 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
26886 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
26887 implicitly updated.
26889 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
26890 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
26891 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
26892 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
26893 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
26894 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
26895 frame. Consider this example:
26900 struct work_state state;
26907 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
26908 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
26909 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
26910 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
26911 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
26913 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
26914 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
26915 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
26916 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
26917 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
26918 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
26920 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
26921 access this functionality:
26923 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
26924 @item @strong{Operation}
26925 @tab @strong{Description}
26927 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
26928 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
26929 @item @code{-var-create}
26930 @tab create a variable object
26931 @item @code{-var-delete}
26932 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
26933 @item @code{-var-set-format}
26934 @tab set the display format of this variable
26935 @item @code{-var-show-format}
26936 @tab show the display format of this variable
26937 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
26938 @tab tells how many children this object has
26939 @item @code{-var-list-children}
26940 @tab return a list of the object's children
26941 @item @code{-var-info-type}
26942 @tab show the type of this variable object
26943 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
26944 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
26945 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
26946 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
26947 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
26948 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
26949 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
26950 @tab get the value of this variable
26951 @item @code{-var-assign}
26952 @tab set the value of this variable
26953 @item @code{-var-update}
26954 @tab update the variable and its children
26955 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
26956 @tab set frozeness attribute
26957 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
26958 @tab set range of children to display on update
26961 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
26962 how it can be used.
26964 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
26966 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
26967 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
26970 -enable-pretty-printing
26973 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
26974 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
26975 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
26976 request that this functionality be enabled.
26978 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
26980 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
26981 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
26983 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
26984 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
26986 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
26987 @findex -var-create
26989 @subsubheading Synopsis
26992 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
26993 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
26996 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
26997 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
27000 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
27001 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
27002 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
27003 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
27004 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
27006 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
27007 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
27008 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
27009 object must be created.
27011 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
27012 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
27016 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
27019 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
27022 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
27025 @cindex dynamic varobj
27026 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
27027 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
27028 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
27029 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
27030 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
27031 compatibility for existing clients.
27033 @subsubheading Result
27035 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
27040 The name of the varobj.
27043 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
27044 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
27045 @samp{has_more} attribute.
27048 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
27049 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
27050 will not be interesting.
27053 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
27054 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
27057 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
27058 thread's identifier.
27061 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
27062 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
27065 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
27066 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
27067 then this attribute will not be present.
27070 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
27071 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
27072 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
27075 Typical output will look like this:
27078 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
27079 has_more="@var{has_more}"
27083 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
27084 @findex -var-delete
27086 @subsubheading Synopsis
27089 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
27092 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
27093 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
27095 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
27098 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
27099 @findex -var-set-format
27101 @subsubheading Synopsis
27104 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
27107 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
27110 @anchor{-var-set-format}
27111 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
27114 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
27115 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
27118 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
27119 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
27120 for pointers, etc.).
27122 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
27123 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
27125 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
27126 @findex -var-show-format
27128 @subsubheading Synopsis
27131 -var-show-format @var{name}
27134 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
27137 @var{format} @expansion{}
27142 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
27143 @findex -var-info-num-children
27145 @subsubheading Synopsis
27148 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
27151 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
27157 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
27158 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
27162 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
27163 @findex -var-list-children
27165 @subsubheading Synopsis
27168 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
27170 @anchor{-var-list-children}
27172 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
27173 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
27174 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
27175 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
27176 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
27177 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
27178 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
27181 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
27182 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
27183 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
27184 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
27187 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
27188 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
27189 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
27190 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
27191 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
27192 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
27193 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
27194 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
27197 For each child the following results are returned:
27202 Name of the variable object created for this child.
27205 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
27206 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
27208 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
27209 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
27211 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
27212 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
27213 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
27214 type and value are not present.
27216 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
27217 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
27218 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
27221 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
27225 The type of the child.
27228 If values were requested, this is the value.
27231 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
27232 Otherwise this result is not present.
27235 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
27238 The result may have its own attributes:
27242 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
27243 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
27244 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
27247 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
27248 remaining after the end of the selected range.
27251 @subsubheading Example
27255 -var-list-children n
27256 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
27257 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
27259 -var-list-children --all-values n
27260 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
27261 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
27265 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
27266 @findex -var-info-type
27268 @subsubheading Synopsis
27271 -var-info-type @var{name}
27274 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
27275 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
27279 type=@var{typename}
27283 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
27284 @findex -var-info-expression
27286 @subsubheading Synopsis
27289 -var-info-expression @var{name}
27292 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
27293 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
27294 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
27296 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
27297 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
27300 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
27301 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
27305 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
27307 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
27308 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
27311 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
27312 @findex -var-info-path-expression
27314 @subsubheading Synopsis
27317 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
27320 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
27321 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
27322 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
27323 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
27324 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
27325 watchpoint from a variable object.
27327 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
27328 and will give an error when invoked on one.
27330 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
27331 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
27332 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
27333 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
27334 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
27336 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
27337 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
27340 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
27341 @findex -var-show-attributes
27343 @subsubheading Synopsis
27346 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
27349 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
27352 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
27356 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
27358 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
27359 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
27361 @subsubheading Synopsis
27364 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
27367 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
27368 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
27369 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
27370 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
27371 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
27372 the current display format will be used. The current display format
27373 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
27379 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
27380 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
27382 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
27383 @findex -var-assign
27385 @subsubheading Synopsis
27388 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
27391 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
27392 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
27393 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
27394 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
27396 @subsubheading Example
27404 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
27408 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
27409 @findex -var-update
27411 @subsubheading Synopsis
27414 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
27417 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
27418 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
27419 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
27420 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
27421 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
27422 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
27423 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
27424 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
27425 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
27426 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
27427 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
27428 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
27429 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
27431 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
27432 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
27435 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
27436 only the selected range of children will be reported.
27438 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
27441 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
27445 The name of the varobj.
27448 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
27449 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
27452 @anchor{-var-update}
27453 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
27457 The variable object's current value is valid.
27460 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
27461 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
27465 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
27466 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
27467 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
27468 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
27472 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
27473 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
27476 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
27477 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
27481 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
27484 @item new_num_children
27485 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
27486 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
27488 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
27489 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
27490 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
27491 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
27492 children which may be available.
27494 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
27495 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
27496 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
27497 only happen at the end of the update range).
27500 The display hint, if any.
27503 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
27504 available outside the varobj's update range.
27507 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
27508 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
27509 then this attribute will not be present.
27512 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
27513 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
27514 be listed in this attribute.
27517 @subsubheading Example
27524 -var-update --all-values var1
27525 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
27526 type_changed="false"@}]
27530 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
27531 @findex -var-set-frozen
27532 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
27534 @subsubheading Synopsis
27537 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
27540 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
27541 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
27542 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
27543 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
27544 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
27545 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
27546 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
27547 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
27548 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
27549 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
27550 @code{-var-update} does.
27552 @subsubheading Example
27556 -var-set-frozen V 1
27561 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
27562 @findex -var-set-update-range
27563 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
27565 @subsubheading Synopsis
27568 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
27571 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
27572 @code{-var-update}.
27574 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
27575 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
27576 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
27577 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
27579 @subsubheading Example
27583 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
27587 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
27588 @findex -var-set-visualizer
27589 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
27591 @subsubheading Synopsis
27594 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
27597 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
27599 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
27600 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
27602 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
27603 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
27604 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
27605 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
27606 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
27607 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
27608 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
27610 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
27611 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
27612 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
27613 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
27615 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
27616 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
27617 can be used to check this.
27619 @subsubheading Example
27621 Resetting the visualizer:
27625 -var-set-visualizer V None
27629 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
27633 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
27637 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
27638 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
27642 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
27646 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27647 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
27648 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
27650 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
27651 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
27652 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
27653 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
27655 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
27656 @c @subheading -data-assign
27657 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
27658 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
27660 @c @subsubheading Example
27663 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
27664 @findex -data-disassemble
27666 @subsubheading Synopsis
27670 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
27671 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
27679 @item @var{start-addr}
27680 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
27681 @item @var{end-addr}
27683 @item @var{filename}
27684 is the name of the file to disassemble
27685 @item @var{linenum}
27686 is the line number to disassemble around
27688 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
27689 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
27690 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
27691 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
27692 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
27693 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
27694 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
27697 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
27698 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
27699 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
27702 @subsubheading Result
27704 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
27713 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
27714 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
27716 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27718 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
27720 @subsubheading Example
27722 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
27726 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
27729 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27730 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27731 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27732 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
27733 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
27734 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
27735 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
27736 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
27737 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
27738 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
27742 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
27746 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
27748 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
27749 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
27750 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27751 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27752 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27753 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
27755 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
27756 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
27760 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
27764 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
27766 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
27767 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
27768 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27769 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27770 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27771 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
27775 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
27779 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
27781 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
27782 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
27783 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
27784 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
27785 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
27786 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
27787 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
27788 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
27789 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27790 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27791 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27792 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
27797 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
27798 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
27800 @subsubheading Synopsis
27803 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
27806 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
27807 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
27808 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
27810 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27812 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
27813 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
27814 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
27816 @subsubheading Example
27818 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
27819 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
27820 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
27824 211-data-evaluate-expression A
27827 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
27828 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
27830 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
27833 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
27839 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
27840 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
27842 @subsubheading Synopsis
27845 -data-list-changed-registers
27848 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
27850 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27852 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
27853 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
27855 @subsubheading Example
27857 On a PPC MBX board:
27865 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
27866 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
27869 -data-list-changed-registers
27870 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
27871 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
27872 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
27877 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
27878 @findex -data-list-register-names
27880 @subsubheading Synopsis
27883 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
27886 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
27887 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
27888 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
27889 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
27890 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
27891 include empty register names.
27893 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27895 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
27896 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
27897 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
27899 @subsubheading Example
27901 For the PPC MBX board:
27904 -data-list-register-names
27905 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
27906 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
27907 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
27908 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
27909 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
27910 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
27911 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
27913 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
27914 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
27918 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
27919 @findex -data-list-register-values
27921 @subsubheading Synopsis
27924 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
27927 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
27928 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
27929 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
27930 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
27932 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
27949 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27951 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
27952 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
27954 @subsubheading Example
27956 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
27957 don't appear in the actual output):
27961 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
27962 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
27963 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
27965 -data-list-register-values x
27966 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
27967 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
27968 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
27969 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
27970 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
27971 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
27972 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
27973 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
27974 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
27975 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
27976 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
27977 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
27978 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
27979 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
27980 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
27981 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
27982 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
27983 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
27984 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
27985 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
27986 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
27987 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
27988 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
27989 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
27990 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
27991 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
27992 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
27993 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
27994 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
27995 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
27996 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
27997 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
27998 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
27999 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
28000 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
28001 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
28006 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
28007 @findex -data-read-memory
28009 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
28011 @subsubheading Synopsis
28014 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
28015 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
28016 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
28023 @item @var{address}
28024 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
28025 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
28026 quoted using the C convention.
28028 @item @var{word-format}
28029 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
28030 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
28033 @item @var{word-size}
28034 The size of each memory word in bytes.
28036 @item @var{nr-rows}
28037 The number of rows in the output table.
28039 @item @var{nr-cols}
28040 The number of columns in the output table.
28043 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
28044 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
28045 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
28046 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
28048 @item @var{byte-offset}
28049 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
28052 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
28053 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
28054 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
28055 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
28056 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
28057 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
28058 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
28061 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
28062 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
28065 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28067 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
28068 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
28070 @subsubheading Example
28072 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
28073 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
28074 word. Display each word in hex.
28078 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
28079 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
28080 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
28081 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
28082 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
28083 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
28084 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
28088 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
28089 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
28093 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
28094 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
28095 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
28096 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
28097 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
28101 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
28102 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
28103 used as the non-printable character.
28107 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
28108 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
28109 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
28110 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
28111 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28112 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28113 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28114 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
28115 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
28116 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
28117 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
28118 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
28122 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
28123 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
28125 @subsubheading Synopsis
28128 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
28129 @var{address} @var{count}
28136 @item @var{address}
28137 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
28138 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
28139 quoted using the C convention.
28142 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
28144 @item @var{byte-offset}
28145 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
28146 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
28147 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
28148 perform address arithmetics itself.
28152 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
28153 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
28154 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
28155 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
28156 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
28157 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
28159 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
28160 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
28161 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
28162 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
28163 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
28164 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
28165 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
28166 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
28168 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
28169 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
28170 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
28171 and has the following fields:
28175 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
28178 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
28181 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
28182 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
28185 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
28191 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28193 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
28195 @subsubheading Example
28199 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
28200 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
28202 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
28207 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
28208 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
28210 @subsubheading Synopsis
28213 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
28220 @item @var{address}
28221 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
28222 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
28223 quoted using the C convention.
28225 @item @var{contents}
28226 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
28230 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28232 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
28234 @subsubheading Example
28238 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
28244 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28245 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
28246 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
28248 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
28249 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
28251 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
28252 @findex -trace-find
28254 @subsubheading Synopsis
28257 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
28260 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
28261 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
28262 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
28267 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
28270 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
28273 @item tracepoint-number
28274 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
28275 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
28278 An address is required as parameter. Finds
28279 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
28282 @item pc-inside-range
28283 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
28284 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
28285 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
28287 @item pc-outside-range
28288 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
28289 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
28290 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
28293 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
28294 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
28295 the specified location.
28299 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
28300 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
28304 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
28305 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
28308 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
28309 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
28312 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
28313 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
28316 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
28317 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
28318 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
28322 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28324 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
28326 @subheading -trace-define-variable
28327 @findex -trace-define-variable
28329 @subsubheading Synopsis
28332 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
28335 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
28336 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
28337 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
28338 with the @samp{$} character.
28340 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28342 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
28344 @subheading -trace-list-variables
28345 @findex -trace-list-variables
28347 @subsubheading Synopsis
28350 -trace-list-variables
28353 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
28354 table has the following fields:
28358 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
28361 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
28362 field is always present.
28365 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
28366 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
28367 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
28372 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28374 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
28376 @subsubheading Example
28380 -trace-list-variables
28381 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
28382 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
28383 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
28384 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
28385 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
28386 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
28390 @subheading -trace-save
28391 @findex -trace-save
28393 @subsubheading Synopsis
28396 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
28399 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
28400 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
28401 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
28402 to perform the save.
28404 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28406 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
28409 @subheading -trace-start
28410 @findex -trace-start
28412 @subsubheading Synopsis
28418 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
28421 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28423 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
28425 @subheading -trace-status
28426 @findex -trace-status
28428 @subsubheading Synopsis
28434 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
28435 the following fields:
28440 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
28441 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
28442 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
28443 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
28444 started. This field is always present.
28447 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
28448 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
28449 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
28452 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
28453 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
28454 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
28455 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
28456 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
28457 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
28458 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
28459 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
28460 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
28462 @item stopping-tracepoint
28463 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
28464 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
28468 @itemx frames-created
28469 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
28470 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
28471 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
28472 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
28476 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
28477 remaining space. These fields are optional.
28480 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
28481 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
28482 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
28486 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
28487 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
28488 that the trace run will stop.
28492 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28494 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
28496 @subheading -trace-stop
28497 @findex -trace-stop
28499 @subsubheading Synopsis
28505 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
28506 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
28507 @samp{running} fields are not output.
28509 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28511 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
28514 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28515 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
28516 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
28520 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
28521 @findex -symbol-info-address
28523 @subsubheading Synopsis
28526 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
28529 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
28531 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28533 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
28535 @subsubheading Example
28539 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
28540 @findex -symbol-info-file
28542 @subsubheading Synopsis
28548 Show the file for the symbol.
28550 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28552 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
28553 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
28555 @subsubheading Example
28559 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
28560 @findex -symbol-info-function
28562 @subsubheading Synopsis
28565 -symbol-info-function
28568 Show which function the symbol lives in.
28570 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28572 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
28574 @subsubheading Example
28578 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
28579 @findex -symbol-info-line
28581 @subsubheading Synopsis
28587 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
28589 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28591 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
28592 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
28594 @subsubheading Example
28598 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
28599 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
28601 @subsubheading Synopsis
28604 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
28607 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
28609 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28611 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
28613 @subsubheading Example
28617 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
28618 @findex -symbol-list-functions
28620 @subsubheading Synopsis
28623 -symbol-list-functions
28626 List the functions in the executable.
28628 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28630 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
28631 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
28633 @subsubheading Example
28638 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
28639 @findex -symbol-list-lines
28641 @subsubheading Synopsis
28644 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
28647 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
28648 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
28649 ascending PC order.
28651 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28653 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
28655 @subsubheading Example
28658 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
28659 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
28665 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
28666 @findex -symbol-list-types
28668 @subsubheading Synopsis
28674 List all the type names.
28676 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28678 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
28679 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
28681 @subsubheading Example
28685 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
28686 @findex -symbol-list-variables
28688 @subsubheading Synopsis
28691 -symbol-list-variables
28694 List all the global and static variable names.
28696 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28698 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
28700 @subsubheading Example
28704 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
28705 @findex -symbol-locate
28707 @subsubheading Synopsis
28713 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28715 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
28717 @subsubheading Example
28721 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
28722 @findex -symbol-type
28724 @subsubheading Synopsis
28727 -symbol-type @var{variable}
28730 Show type of @var{variable}.
28732 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28734 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
28735 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
28737 @subsubheading Example
28742 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28743 @node GDB/MI File Commands
28744 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
28746 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
28747 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
28749 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
28750 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
28752 @subsubheading Synopsis
28755 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
28758 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
28759 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
28760 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
28761 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
28762 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
28765 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28767 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
28769 @subsubheading Example
28773 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
28779 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
28780 @findex -file-exec-file
28782 @subsubheading Synopsis
28785 -file-exec-file @var{file}
28788 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
28789 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
28790 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
28791 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
28794 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28796 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
28798 @subsubheading Example
28802 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
28809 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
28810 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
28812 @subsubheading Synopsis
28815 -file-list-exec-sections
28818 List the sections of the current executable file.
28820 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28822 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
28823 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
28824 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
28826 @subsubheading Example
28831 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
28832 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
28834 @subsubheading Synopsis
28837 -file-list-exec-source-file
28840 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
28841 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
28842 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
28843 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
28845 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28847 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
28849 @subsubheading Example
28853 123-file-list-exec-source-file
28854 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
28859 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
28860 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
28862 @subsubheading Synopsis
28865 -file-list-exec-source-files
28868 List the source files for the current executable.
28870 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
28871 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
28873 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28875 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
28876 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
28878 @subsubheading Example
28881 -file-list-exec-source-files
28883 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
28884 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
28885 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
28890 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
28891 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
28893 @subsubheading Synopsis
28896 -file-list-shared-libraries
28899 List the shared libraries in the program.
28901 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28903 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
28905 @subsubheading Example
28909 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
28910 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
28912 @subsubheading Synopsis
28915 -file-list-symbol-files
28920 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28922 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
28924 @subsubheading Example
28929 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
28930 @findex -file-symbol-file
28932 @subsubheading Synopsis
28935 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
28938 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
28939 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
28940 produced, except for a completion notification.
28942 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28944 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
28946 @subsubheading Example
28950 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
28956 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28957 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
28958 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
28960 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
28962 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
28964 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
28966 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
28968 @c @subheading -overlay-map
28970 @c @subheading -overlay-off
28972 @c @subheading -overlay-on
28974 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
28976 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28977 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
28978 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
28980 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
28982 @c @subheading -signal-handle
28984 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
28986 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
28990 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28991 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
28992 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
28995 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
28996 @findex -target-attach
28998 @subsubheading Synopsis
29001 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
29004 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
29005 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
29006 group, the id previously returned by
29007 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
29009 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29011 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
29013 @subsubheading Example
29017 =thread-created,id="1"
29018 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
29024 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
29025 @findex -target-compare-sections
29027 @subsubheading Synopsis
29030 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
29033 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
29034 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
29036 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29038 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
29040 @subsubheading Example
29045 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
29046 @findex -target-detach
29048 @subsubheading Synopsis
29051 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
29054 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
29055 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
29056 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
29058 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29060 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
29062 @subsubheading Example
29072 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
29073 @findex -target-disconnect
29075 @subsubheading Synopsis
29081 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
29082 generally not resumed.
29084 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29086 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
29088 @subsubheading Example
29098 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
29099 @findex -target-download
29101 @subsubheading Synopsis
29107 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
29108 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
29112 The name of the section.
29114 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
29116 The size of the section.
29118 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
29120 The size of the overall executable to download.
29124 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
29125 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
29127 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
29128 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
29132 The name of the section.
29134 The size of the section.
29136 The size of the overall executable to download.
29140 At the end, a summary is printed.
29142 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29144 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
29146 @subsubheading Example
29148 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
29149 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
29154 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
29155 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
29156 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
29157 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
29158 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
29159 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
29160 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
29161 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
29162 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
29163 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
29164 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
29165 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
29166 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
29167 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
29168 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
29169 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
29170 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
29171 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
29172 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
29173 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
29174 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
29175 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
29176 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
29177 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
29178 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
29179 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
29180 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
29181 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
29182 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
29183 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
29184 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
29185 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
29186 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
29187 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
29188 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
29189 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
29190 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
29191 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
29192 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
29193 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
29194 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
29195 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
29196 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
29203 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
29204 @findex -target-exec-status
29206 @subsubheading Synopsis
29209 -target-exec-status
29212 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
29213 not, for instance).
29215 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29217 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
29219 @subsubheading Example
29223 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
29224 @findex -target-list-available-targets
29226 @subsubheading Synopsis
29229 -target-list-available-targets
29232 List the possible targets to connect to.
29234 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29236 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
29238 @subsubheading Example
29242 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
29243 @findex -target-list-current-targets
29245 @subsubheading Synopsis
29248 -target-list-current-targets
29251 Describe the current target.
29253 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29255 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
29258 @subsubheading Example
29262 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
29263 @findex -target-list-parameters
29265 @subsubheading Synopsis
29268 -target-list-parameters
29274 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29278 @subsubheading Example
29282 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
29283 @findex -target-select
29285 @subsubheading Synopsis
29288 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
29291 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
29295 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
29296 @item @var{parameters}
29297 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
29298 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
29301 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
29302 which the target program is, in the following form:
29305 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
29306 args=[@var{arg list}]
29309 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29311 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
29313 @subsubheading Example
29317 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
29318 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
29322 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29323 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
29324 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
29327 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
29328 @findex -target-file-put
29330 @subsubheading Synopsis
29333 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
29336 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
29337 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
29339 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29341 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
29343 @subsubheading Example
29347 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
29353 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
29354 @findex -target-file-get
29356 @subsubheading Synopsis
29359 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
29362 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
29363 on the host system.
29365 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29367 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
29369 @subsubheading Example
29373 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
29379 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
29380 @findex -target-file-delete
29382 @subsubheading Synopsis
29385 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
29388 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
29390 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29392 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
29394 @subsubheading Example
29398 -target-file-delete remotefile
29404 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29405 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
29406 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
29408 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
29410 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
29413 @subsubheading Synopsis
29419 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
29421 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29423 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
29425 @subsubheading Example
29435 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
29436 @findex -exec-abort
29438 @subsubheading Synopsis
29444 Kill the inferior running program.
29446 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29448 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
29450 @subsubheading Example
29455 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
29458 @subsubheading Synopsis
29464 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
29465 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
29467 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29469 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
29471 @subsubheading Example
29481 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
29484 @subsubheading Synopsis
29490 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
29492 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29494 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
29496 @subsubheading Example
29505 @c @subheading -gdb-source
29508 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
29509 @findex -gdb-version
29511 @subsubheading Synopsis
29517 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
29519 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29521 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
29522 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
29524 @subsubheading Example
29526 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
29532 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
29533 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
29534 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
29535 ~ certain conditions.
29536 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
29537 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
29539 ~This GDB was configured as
29540 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
29545 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
29546 @findex -list-features
29548 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
29549 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
29550 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
29551 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
29552 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
29555 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
29556 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
29557 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
29563 (gdb) -list-features
29564 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
29567 The current list of features is:
29570 @item frozen-varobjs
29571 Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
29572 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
29573 of @code{-varobj-create}.
29574 @item pending-breakpoints
29575 Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
29577 Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
29578 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
29579 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
29581 Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
29582 @item data-read-memory-bytes
29583 Indicates presense of the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
29584 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
29588 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
29589 @findex -list-target-features
29591 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
29592 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
29593 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
29594 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
29595 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
29596 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
29597 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
29601 (gdb) -list-features
29602 ^done,result=["async"]
29605 The current list of features is:
29609 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
29610 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
29611 while the target is running.
29614 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
29615 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
29619 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
29620 @findex -list-thread-groups
29622 @subheading Synopsis
29625 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
29628 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
29629 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
29630 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
29631 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
29632 top-level thread groups.
29634 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
29635 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
29636 available on the target.
29638 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
29639 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
29640 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
29641 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
29642 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
29643 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
29644 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
29645 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
29647 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
29648 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
29649 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
29650 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
29651 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
29652 @samp{threads} field.
29654 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
29655 the following caveats:
29659 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
29660 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
29661 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
29664 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
29665 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
29666 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
29667 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
29668 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
29669 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
29673 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
29674 have the following fields:
29678 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
29679 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
29680 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
29683 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
29687 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
29688 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
29691 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
29692 absent for an available thread group.
29695 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
29696 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
29697 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
29700 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
29701 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
29702 such information is not available.
29705 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
29706 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
29707 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
29711 @subheading Example
29715 -list-thread-groups
29716 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
29717 -list-thread-groups 17
29718 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
29719 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
29720 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
29721 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
29722 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
29723 -list-thread-groups --available
29724 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
29725 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
29726 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
29727 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
29728 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
29729 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
29730 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
29731 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
29732 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
29736 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
29737 @findex -add-inferior
29739 @subheading Synopsis
29745 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
29746 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
29747 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
29748 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
29749 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
29750 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
29752 @subheading Example
29757 ^done,thread-group="i3"
29760 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
29761 @findex -interpreter-exec
29763 @subheading Synopsis
29766 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
29768 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
29770 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
29772 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29774 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
29776 @subheading Example
29780 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
29781 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
29782 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
29783 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
29788 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
29789 @findex -inferior-tty-set
29791 @subheading Synopsis
29794 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
29797 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
29799 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29801 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
29803 @subheading Example
29807 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
29812 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
29813 @findex -inferior-tty-show
29815 @subheading Synopsis
29821 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
29823 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29825 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
29827 @subheading Example
29831 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
29835 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
29839 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
29840 @findex -enable-timings
29842 @subheading Synopsis
29845 -enable-timings [yes | no]
29848 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
29849 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
29850 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
29851 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
29853 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29857 @subheading Example
29865 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29866 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29867 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
29868 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
29876 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
29877 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
29878 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
29879 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
29884 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
29886 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
29887 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
29888 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
29889 relatively high level.
29891 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
29895 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
29899 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
29900 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
29901 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
29902 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
29903 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
29904 * Annotations for Running::
29905 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
29906 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
29909 @node Annotations Overview
29910 @section What is an Annotation?
29911 @cindex annotations
29913 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
29914 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
29915 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
29916 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
29917 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
29918 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
29919 cannot contain newline characters.
29921 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
29922 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
29923 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
29924 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
29925 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
29926 means those three characters as output.
29928 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
29929 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
29930 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
29931 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
29932 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
29933 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
29934 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
29935 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
29936 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
29939 @kindex set annotate
29940 @item set annotate @var{level}
29941 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
29942 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
29944 @item show annotate
29945 @kindex show annotate
29946 Show the current annotation level.
29949 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
29951 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
29954 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
29956 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
29957 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
29958 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
29959 under certain conditions.
29960 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
29961 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
29963 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
29974 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
29975 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
29976 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
29977 output from @value{GDBN}.
29979 @node Server Prefix
29980 @section The Server Prefix
29981 @cindex server prefix
29983 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
29984 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
29985 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
29986 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
29987 a transparent manner.
29989 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
29990 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
29991 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
29992 @code{print} command.
29994 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
29995 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
29998 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
30000 @cindex annotations for prompts
30001 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
30002 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
30005 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
30006 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
30007 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
30008 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
30009 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
30010 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
30011 features the following annotations:
30019 The input types are
30022 @findex pre-prompt annotation
30023 @findex prompt annotation
30024 @findex post-prompt annotation
30026 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
30028 @findex pre-commands annotation
30029 @findex commands annotation
30030 @findex post-commands annotation
30032 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
30033 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
30035 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
30036 @findex overload-choice annotation
30037 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
30038 @item overload-choice
30039 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
30041 @findex pre-query annotation
30042 @findex query annotation
30043 @findex post-query annotation
30045 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
30047 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
30048 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
30049 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
30050 @item prompt-for-continue
30051 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
30052 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
30053 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
30054 presence of annotations.
30059 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
30061 @findex quit annotation
30066 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
30068 @findex error annotation
30073 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
30075 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
30076 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
30077 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
30078 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
30079 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
30080 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
30083 @findex error-begin annotation
30084 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
30090 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
30093 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
30094 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
30095 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
30098 @section Invalidation Notices
30100 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
30101 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
30105 @findex frames-invalid annotation
30106 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
30108 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
30111 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
30112 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
30114 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
30115 deleted a breakpoint.
30118 @node Annotations for Running
30119 @section Running the Program
30120 @cindex annotations for running programs
30122 @findex starting annotation
30123 @findex stopping annotation
30124 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
30125 @code{step} or @code{continue},
30131 is output. When the program stops,
30137 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
30138 annotations describe how the program stopped.
30141 @findex exited annotation
30142 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
30143 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
30144 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
30146 @findex signalled annotation
30147 @findex signal-name annotation
30148 @findex signal-name-end annotation
30149 @findex signal-string annotation
30150 @findex signal-string-end annotation
30151 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
30152 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
30153 annotation continues:
30159 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
30163 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
30168 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
30169 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
30170 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
30171 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
30172 user's benefit and have no particular format.
30174 @findex signal annotation
30176 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
30177 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
30178 terminated with it.
30180 @findex breakpoint annotation
30181 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
30182 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
30184 @findex watchpoint annotation
30185 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
30186 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
30189 @node Source Annotations
30190 @section Displaying Source
30191 @cindex annotations for source display
30193 @findex source annotation
30194 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
30197 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
30200 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
30201 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
30202 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
30203 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
30204 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
30205 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
30206 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
30207 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
30208 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
30209 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
30210 depend on the language).
30212 @node JIT Interface
30213 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
30214 @cindex just-in-time compilation
30215 @cindex JIT compilation interface
30217 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
30218 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
30219 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
30220 performance while maintaining platform independence.
30222 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
30223 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
30224 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
30225 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
30226 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
30227 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
30229 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
30230 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
30231 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
30232 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
30235 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
30236 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
30237 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
30238 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
30239 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
30240 out about additional code.
30243 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
30244 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
30245 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
30249 @section JIT Declarations
30251 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
30252 implement the interface:
30262 struct jit_code_entry
30264 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
30265 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
30266 const char *symfile_addr;
30267 uint64_t symfile_size;
30270 struct jit_descriptor
30273 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
30274 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
30275 uint32_t action_flag;
30276 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
30277 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
30280 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
30281 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
30283 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
30284 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
30285 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
30288 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
30289 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
30290 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
30292 @node Registering Code
30293 @section Registering Code
30295 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
30299 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
30300 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
30303 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
30307 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
30310 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
30313 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
30314 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
30317 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
30318 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
30319 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
30320 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
30322 @node Unregistering Code
30323 @section Unregistering Code
30325 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
30329 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
30332 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
30335 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
30336 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
30339 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
30340 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
30343 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
30344 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
30345 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
30347 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
30349 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
30350 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
30351 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
30352 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
30354 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
30355 information that enables us to fix the bug.
30358 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
30359 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
30363 @section Have You Found a Bug?
30364 @cindex bug criteria
30366 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
30369 @cindex fatal signal
30370 @cindex debugger crash
30371 @cindex crash of debugger
30373 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
30374 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
30376 @cindex error on valid input
30378 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
30379 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
30380 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
30382 @cindex invalid input
30384 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
30385 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
30386 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
30387 for traditional practice''.
30390 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
30391 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
30394 @node Bug Reporting
30395 @section How to Report Bugs
30396 @cindex bug reports
30397 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
30399 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
30400 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
30401 contact that organization first.
30403 You can find contact information for many support companies and
30404 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
30406 @c should add a web page ref...
30409 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
30410 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
30411 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
30412 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
30413 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
30416 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
30417 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
30418 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
30421 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
30422 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
30423 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
30424 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
30425 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
30426 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
30427 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
30428 bug reports to the mailing list.
30430 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
30431 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
30432 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
30436 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
30437 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
30438 fact or leave it out, state it!
30440 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
30441 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
30442 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
30443 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
30444 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
30445 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
30446 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
30447 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
30448 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
30450 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
30451 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
30452 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
30455 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
30456 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
30457 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
30460 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
30464 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
30465 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
30468 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
30469 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
30472 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
30476 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
30477 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
30480 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
30481 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
30482 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
30483 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
30487 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
30488 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
30489 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
30490 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
30492 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
30493 and then we might not encounter the bug.
30496 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
30500 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
30501 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
30503 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
30504 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
30505 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
30506 a chance to make a mistake.
30508 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
30509 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
30510 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
30511 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
30512 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
30513 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
30514 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
30515 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
30518 @cindex recording a session script
30519 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
30520 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
30521 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
30522 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
30524 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
30525 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
30528 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
30529 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
30530 it by context, not by line number.
30532 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
30533 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
30537 Here are some things that are not necessary:
30541 A description of the envelope of the bug.
30543 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
30544 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
30545 changes will not affect it.
30547 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
30548 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
30549 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
30550 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
30552 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
30553 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
30554 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
30555 less time, and so on.
30557 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
30558 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
30561 A patch for the bug.
30563 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
30564 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
30565 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
30566 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
30568 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
30569 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
30570 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
30571 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
30573 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
30574 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
30575 help us to understand.
30578 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
30580 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
30581 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
30584 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
30585 @c and consists of the two following files:
30587 @c inc-hist.texinfo
30588 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
30589 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
30590 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
30591 @include rluser.texi
30592 @include inc-hist.texinfo
30596 @node Formatting Documentation
30597 @appendix Formatting Documentation
30599 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
30600 @cindex reference card
30601 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
30602 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
30603 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
30604 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
30605 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
30606 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
30608 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
30609 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
30615 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
30616 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
30617 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
30618 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
30619 your @sc{dvi} output program.
30621 @cindex documentation
30623 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
30624 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
30625 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
30626 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
30627 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
30628 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
30630 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
30631 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
30632 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
30633 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
30634 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
30635 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
30636 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
30637 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
30639 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
30640 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
30643 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
30644 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
30645 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
30652 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
30653 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
30654 Texinfo definitions file.
30656 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
30657 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
30658 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
30659 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
30660 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
30661 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
30662 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
30664 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
30665 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
30666 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
30667 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
30668 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
30671 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
30672 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
30673 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
30674 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
30680 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
30682 @node Installing GDB
30683 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
30684 @cindex installation
30687 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
30688 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
30689 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
30690 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
30691 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
30692 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
30696 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
30697 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
30699 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
30700 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
30702 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
30704 @item ISO C90 compiler
30705 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
30706 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
30710 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
30714 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
30715 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
30716 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
30717 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
30718 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
30719 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
30725 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
30727 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
30729 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
30731 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
30735 @cindex compressed debug sections
30736 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
30737 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
30738 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
30739 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
30740 information in such binaries.
30742 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
30743 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
30744 @url{http://zlib.net}.
30747 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
30748 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
30749 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
30750 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
30752 On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
30753 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
30754 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
30756 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
30757 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
30758 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
30759 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
30760 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
30761 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
30762 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
30763 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
30766 @node Running Configure
30767 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
30768 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
30769 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
30770 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
30771 build the @code{gdb} program.
30773 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
30774 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
30775 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
30776 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
30779 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
30780 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
30781 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
30783 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
30784 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
30787 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
30788 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
30790 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
30791 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
30793 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
30794 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
30796 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
30797 @sc{gnu} include files
30799 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
30800 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
30802 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
30803 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
30805 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
30806 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
30808 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
30809 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
30811 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
30812 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
30815 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
30816 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
30817 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
30819 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
30820 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
30821 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
30827 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
30828 ./configure @var{host}
30833 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
30834 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
30835 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
30836 correct value by examining your system.)
30838 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
30839 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
30840 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
30841 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
30844 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
30845 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
30846 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
30849 sh configure @var{host}
30852 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
30853 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
30854 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
30856 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
30857 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
30859 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
30860 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
30861 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
30862 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
30863 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
30864 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
30865 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
30866 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
30867 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
30869 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
30870 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
30871 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
30872 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
30873 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
30875 @node Separate Objdir
30876 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
30878 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
30879 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
30880 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
30881 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
30882 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
30883 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
30884 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
30885 program specified there.
30887 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
30888 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
30889 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
30890 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
30891 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
30892 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
30894 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
30895 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
30899 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
30902 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
30907 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
30908 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
30909 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
30910 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
30911 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
30912 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
30914 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
30915 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
30916 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
30917 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
30918 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
30920 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
30921 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
30922 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
30923 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
30924 You specify a cross-debugging target by
30925 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
30927 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
30928 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
30929 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
30931 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
30932 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
30933 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
30934 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
30935 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
30937 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
30938 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
30939 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
30943 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
30945 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
30946 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
30947 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
30948 of information in the following pattern:
30951 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
30954 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
30955 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
30956 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
30958 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
30959 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
30960 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
30961 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
30962 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
30963 abbreviations---for example:
30966 % sh config.sub i386-linux
30968 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
30969 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
30970 % sh config.sub hp9k700
30972 % sh config.sub sun4
30973 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
30974 % sh config.sub sun3
30975 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
30976 % sh config.sub i986v
30977 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
30981 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
30982 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
30984 @node Configure Options
30985 @section @file{configure} Options
30987 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
30988 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
30989 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
30990 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
30993 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
30994 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
30995 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
30996 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
30997 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
30998 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
31003 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
31004 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
31009 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
31011 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
31012 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
31015 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
31016 Configure the source to install programs under directory
31019 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
31021 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
31022 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
31023 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
31024 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
31025 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
31026 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
31027 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
31028 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
31029 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
31030 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
31033 @item --norecursion
31034 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
31035 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
31037 @item --target=@var{target}
31038 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
31039 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
31040 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
31042 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
31044 @item @var{host} @dots{}
31045 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
31047 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
31050 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
31051 needed for special purposes only.
31053 @node System-wide configuration
31054 @section System-wide configuration and settings
31055 @cindex system-wide init file
31057 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
31058 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
31059 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
31061 Here is the corresponding configure option:
31064 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
31065 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
31069 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
31070 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
31074 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
31075 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
31076 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
31077 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
31078 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
31079 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
31082 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
31083 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
31084 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
31085 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
31086 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
31089 @node Maintenance Commands
31090 @appendix Maintenance Commands
31091 @cindex maintenance commands
31092 @cindex internal commands
31094 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
31095 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
31096 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
31097 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
31098 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
31101 @kindex maint agent
31102 @kindex maint agent-eval
31103 @item maint agent @var{expression}
31104 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
31105 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
31106 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
31107 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
31108 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
31109 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
31110 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
31111 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
31112 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
31113 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
31114 addition and return the sum.
31116 @kindex maint info breakpoints
31117 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
31118 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
31119 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
31120 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
31121 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
31126 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
31129 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
31132 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
31133 @code{longjmp} calls.
31135 @item longjmp resume
31136 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
31139 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
31142 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
31145 Shared library events.
31149 @kindex set displaced-stepping
31150 @kindex show displaced-stepping
31151 @cindex displaced stepping support
31152 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
31153 @item set displaced-stepping
31154 @itemx show displaced-stepping
31155 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
31156 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
31157 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
31158 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
31159 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
31162 @item set displaced-stepping on
31163 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
31164 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
31166 @item set displaced-stepping off
31167 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
31168 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
31170 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
31171 @item set displaced-stepping auto
31172 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
31173 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
31174 architecture supports displaced stepping.
31177 @kindex maint check-symtabs
31178 @item maint check-symtabs
31179 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
31181 @kindex maint cplus first_component
31182 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
31183 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
31185 @kindex maint cplus namespace
31186 @item maint cplus namespace
31187 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
31189 @kindex maint demangle
31190 @item maint demangle @var{name}
31191 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
31193 @kindex maint deprecate
31194 @kindex maint undeprecate
31195 @cindex deprecated commands
31196 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
31197 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
31198 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
31199 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
31200 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
31201 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
31202 the replacement as part of the warning.
31204 @kindex maint dump-me
31205 @item maint dump-me
31206 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
31207 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
31208 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
31209 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
31211 @kindex maint internal-error
31212 @kindex maint internal-warning
31213 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
31214 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
31215 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
31216 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
31217 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
31218 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
31219 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
31220 @value{GDBN} session.
31222 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
31223 used as the text of the error or warning message.
31225 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
31228 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
31229 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
31230 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
31231 debugging may prove unreliable.
31232 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
31233 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
31237 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
31238 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
31240 @kindex maint set internal-error
31241 @kindex maint show internal-error
31242 @kindex maint set internal-warning
31243 @kindex maint show internal-warning
31244 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
31245 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
31246 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
31247 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
31248 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
31249 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
31250 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
31251 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
31252 described in the table below.
31256 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
31257 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
31260 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
31261 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
31264 @kindex maint packet
31265 @item maint packet @var{text}
31266 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
31267 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
31268 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
31269 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
31272 @kindex maint print architecture
31273 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31274 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
31275 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
31277 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
31278 @item maint print c-tdesc
31279 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
31280 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
31281 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
31283 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
31284 @item maint print dummy-frames
31285 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
31288 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
31290 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
31291 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
31293 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
31295 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
31296 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
31297 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
31298 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
31302 Takes an optional file parameter.
31304 @kindex maint print registers
31305 @kindex maint print raw-registers
31306 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
31307 @kindex maint print register-groups
31308 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31309 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31310 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31311 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31312 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
31314 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
31315 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
31316 includes the (cooked) value of all registers, including registers which
31317 aren't available on the target nor visible to user; and the
31318 command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
31319 register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
31320 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
31322 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
31323 write the information.
31325 @kindex maint print reggroups
31326 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
31327 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
31328 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
31331 The register groups info looks like this:
31334 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
31347 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
31349 @kindex maint print objfiles
31350 @cindex info for known object files
31351 @item maint print objfiles
31352 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
31353 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
31356 @kindex maint print section-scripts
31357 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
31358 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
31359 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
31360 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
31361 matching @var{regexp}.
31362 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
31363 and the full path if known.
31364 @xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
31366 @kindex maint print statistics
31367 @cindex bcache statistics
31368 @item maint print statistics
31369 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
31370 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
31371 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
31372 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
31373 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
31374 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
31375 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
31376 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
31377 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
31378 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
31381 @kindex maint print target-stack
31382 @cindex target stack description
31383 @item maint print target-stack
31384 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
31385 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
31386 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
31387 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
31388 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
31391 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
31392 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
31394 @kindex maint print type
31395 @cindex type chain of a data type
31396 @item maint print type @var{expr}
31397 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
31398 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
31399 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
31400 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
31401 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
31403 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
31404 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
31405 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
31406 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
31407 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
31410 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
31411 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
31412 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
31413 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
31414 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
31415 always see the disassembly form.
31417 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
31420 (gdb) info addr argc
31421 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
31425 For more information on these expressions, see
31426 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
31428 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
31429 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
31430 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
31431 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
31432 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
31434 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
31435 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
31436 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
31437 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
31438 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
31439 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
31440 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
31441 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
31442 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
31444 @kindex maint set profile
31445 @kindex maint show profile
31446 @cindex profiling GDB
31447 @item maint set profile
31448 @itemx maint show profile
31449 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
31451 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
31452 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
31453 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
31454 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
31455 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
31456 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
31457 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
31459 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
31460 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
31462 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
31463 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
31464 @cindex hardware debug registers
31465 @item maint set show-debug-regs
31466 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
31467 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
31468 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
31469 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
31470 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
31471 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
31473 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
31474 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
31475 @item maint set show-all-tib
31476 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
31477 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
31478 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
31481 @kindex maint space
31482 @cindex memory used by commands
31484 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
31485 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
31486 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
31487 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
31488 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
31491 @cindex time of command execution
31493 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
31494 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
31495 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
31496 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
31497 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
31498 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
31499 it's not possibly currently
31500 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
31501 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
31503 @kindex maint translate-address
31504 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
31505 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
31506 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
31507 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
31508 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
31509 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
31510 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
31512 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
31513 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
31514 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
31518 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
31519 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
31522 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
31523 @kindex set watchdog
31524 @cindex watchdog timer
31525 @cindex timeout for commands
31526 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
31527 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
31528 reports and error and the command is aborted.
31530 @item show watchdog
31531 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
31534 @node Remote Protocol
31535 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
31540 * Stop Reply Packets::
31541 * General Query Packets::
31542 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
31543 * Tracepoint Packets::
31544 * Host I/O Packets::
31546 * Notification Packets::
31547 * Remote Non-Stop::
31548 * Packet Acknowledgment::
31550 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
31551 * Library List Format::
31552 * Memory Map Format::
31553 * Thread List Format::
31559 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
31560 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
31561 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
31562 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
31564 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
31565 transmitted and received data, respectively.
31567 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
31568 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
31569 @cindex remote serial protocol
31570 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
31571 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
31572 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
31573 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
31574 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
31577 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
31581 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
31583 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
31584 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
31585 eight bit unsigned checksum).
31587 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
31588 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
31591 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
31594 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
31596 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
31597 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
31598 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
31600 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
31601 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
31602 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
31606 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
31611 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
31612 once a connection is established.
31613 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
31615 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
31616 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
31617 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
31618 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
31619 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
31620 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
31621 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
31623 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
31624 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
31627 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
31628 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
31629 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
31630 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
31632 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
31633 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
31634 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
31636 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
31637 @anchor{Binary Data}
31638 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
31639 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
31640 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
31641 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
31642 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
31645 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
31646 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
31647 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
31648 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
31649 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
31650 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
31651 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
31652 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
31653 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
31656 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
31657 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
31658 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
31659 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
31660 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
31661 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
31662 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
31663 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
31664 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
31665 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
31666 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
31669 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
31670 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
31671 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
31672 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
31675 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
31676 error number. That number is not well defined.
31678 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
31679 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
31680 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
31681 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
31684 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
31685 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
31691 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
31692 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
31693 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
31694 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
31696 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
31697 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
31698 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
31699 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
31700 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
31701 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
31702 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
31703 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
31704 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
31707 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
31708 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
31709 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
31710 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
31711 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
31712 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
31715 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
31716 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
31717 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
31718 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
31719 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
31720 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
31721 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
31722 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
31723 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
31724 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
31725 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
31726 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
31727 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
31729 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
31730 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
31731 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
31734 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
31735 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
31737 Here are the packet descriptions.
31742 @cindex @samp{!} packet
31743 @anchor{extended mode}
31744 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
31745 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
31751 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
31755 @cindex @samp{?} packet
31756 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
31757 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
31758 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
31761 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31763 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
31764 @cindex @samp{A} packet
31765 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
31766 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
31767 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
31772 The arguments were set.
31778 @cindex @samp{b} packet
31779 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
31780 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
31782 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
31783 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
31784 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
31786 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
31787 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
31788 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
31789 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
31790 of view, nothing actually happened.}
31792 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
31793 @cindex @samp{B} packet
31794 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
31795 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
31797 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
31798 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
31800 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
31803 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
31804 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31807 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31809 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
31812 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
31813 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31816 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31818 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
31819 @cindex @samp{c} packet
31820 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
31821 resume at current address.
31824 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31826 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
31827 @cindex @samp{C} packet
31828 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
31829 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
31832 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31835 @cindex @samp{d} packet
31838 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
31839 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
31843 @cindex @samp{D} packet
31844 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
31845 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
31846 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
31848 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
31849 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
31850 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
31851 big-endian hex string.
31861 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
31862 @cindex @samp{F} packet
31863 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
31864 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
31865 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
31868 @anchor{read registers packet}
31869 @cindex @samp{g} packet
31870 Read general registers.
31874 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
31875 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
31876 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
31877 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
31878 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
31879 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
31880 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
31882 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
31883 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
31884 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
31885 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
31886 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
31887 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
31888 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
31889 have been collected, and both have zero value:
31893 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
31900 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
31901 @cindex @samp{G} packet
31902 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
31903 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
31913 @item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
31914 @cindex @samp{H} packet
31915 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
31916 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
31917 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
31918 operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
31919 interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31930 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
31931 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
31932 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
31933 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
31934 @c described. For example:
31936 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
31937 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
31938 @c otherwise returns current registers.
31940 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
31941 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
31942 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
31944 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
31945 @anchor{cycle step packet}
31946 @cindex @samp{i} packet
31947 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
31948 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
31949 step starting at that address.
31952 @cindex @samp{I} packet
31953 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
31957 @cindex @samp{k} packet
31960 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
31961 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
31964 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
31965 @cindex @samp{m} packet
31966 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
31967 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
31969 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
31970 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
31971 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
31972 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
31973 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
31974 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
31975 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
31976 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
31980 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
31981 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
31982 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
31983 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
31988 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
31989 @cindex @samp{M} packet
31990 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
31991 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
31992 hexadecimal number.
31999 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
32004 @cindex @samp{p} packet
32005 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
32006 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
32007 register value is encoded.
32011 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
32012 the register's value
32016 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
32019 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
32020 @anchor{write register packet}
32021 @cindex @samp{P} packet
32022 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
32023 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
32024 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
32034 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
32035 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
32036 @cindex @samp{q} packet
32037 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
32038 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
32039 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
32042 @cindex @samp{r} packet
32043 Reset the entire system.
32045 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
32048 @cindex @samp{R} packet
32049 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
32050 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
32052 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
32054 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
32055 @cindex @samp{s} packet
32056 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
32057 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
32060 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32062 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
32063 @anchor{step with signal packet}
32064 @cindex @samp{S} packet
32065 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
32066 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
32069 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32071 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
32072 @cindex @samp{t} packet
32073 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
32074 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
32075 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
32077 @item T @var{thread-id}
32078 @cindex @samp{T} packet
32079 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
32084 thread is still alive
32090 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
32091 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
32093 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
32094 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
32095 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
32096 The process ID is a
32097 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
32098 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
32099 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
32101 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
32102 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
32103 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
32104 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
32105 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
32106 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
32107 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
32108 @c stopping or restarting threads.
32110 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
32116 @item @r{Any stop packet}
32117 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
32119 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
32122 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
32123 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
32124 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
32125 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
32126 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
32127 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
32128 in their current state in non-stop mode.
32129 Specifying multiple
32130 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
32131 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
32133 Currently supported actions are:
32139 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
32143 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
32148 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
32149 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
32150 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
32152 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
32153 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
32154 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
32155 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
32156 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
32157 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
32158 as an implementation detail.
32161 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
32164 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
32165 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
32169 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
32170 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
32171 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
32173 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
32176 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
32177 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
32178 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
32179 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
32181 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
32182 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
32183 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
32184 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
32185 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
32186 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
32187 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
32188 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
32189 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
32190 packet is received.
32192 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
32193 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
32194 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
32195 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
32206 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
32207 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
32208 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
32209 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
32210 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
32211 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
32212 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
32213 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
32214 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
32215 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
32216 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
32217 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
32225 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
32231 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
32232 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
32233 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
32234 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
32235 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
32236 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
32237 request is completed.
32239 @item vKill;@var{pid}
32240 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
32241 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
32242 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
32243 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
32244 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
32254 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
32255 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
32256 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
32257 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
32258 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
32259 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
32262 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
32264 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
32270 @item @r{Any stop packet}
32271 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
32275 @anchor{vStopped packet}
32276 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
32278 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
32279 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
32283 @item @r{Any stop packet}
32284 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
32286 if there are no unreported stop events
32289 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
32291 @cindex @samp{X} packet
32292 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
32293 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
32294 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
32304 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
32305 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
32306 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
32307 @cindex @samp{z} packet
32308 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
32309 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
32310 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
32312 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
32315 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
32316 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
32317 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
32318 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
32319 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
32320 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
32322 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32323 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32324 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
32325 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
32326 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
32327 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
32329 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
32330 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
32331 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
32332 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
32333 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
32334 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
32335 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
32337 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
32338 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
32339 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
32340 target, is not defined.}
32352 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32353 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32354 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
32355 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
32356 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
32357 address @var{addr}.
32359 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
32360 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
32361 has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
32363 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
32376 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32377 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32378 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
32379 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
32380 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
32381 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
32393 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32394 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32395 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
32396 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
32397 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
32398 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
32410 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32411 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
32412 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
32413 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
32414 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
32415 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
32429 @node Stop Reply Packets
32430 @section Stop Reply Packets
32431 @cindex stop reply packets
32433 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
32434 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
32435 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
32436 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
32437 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
32438 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
32439 @value{GDBN} source code.
32441 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
32442 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
32443 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
32449 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
32450 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
32451 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
32453 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
32454 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
32455 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
32456 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
32457 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
32458 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
32459 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
32460 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
32464 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
32465 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
32466 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
32467 two-digit hex number.
32470 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
32471 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
32474 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
32475 the core on which the stop event was detected.
32478 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
32479 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
32480 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
32481 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
32484 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
32485 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
32489 The currently defined stop reasons are:
32495 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
32498 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
32500 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
32501 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
32502 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
32504 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
32506 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
32507 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
32508 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
32509 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
32510 for more information.
32514 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
32515 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
32516 applicable to certain targets.
32518 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
32519 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
32520 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
32521 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
32524 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
32525 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
32527 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
32528 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
32529 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
32530 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
32532 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
32533 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
32534 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
32535 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
32536 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
32538 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
32539 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
32540 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
32541 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
32542 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
32545 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
32546 this very system call.
32548 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
32549 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
32550 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
32551 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
32552 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
32553 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
32557 @node General Query Packets
32558 @section General Query Packets
32559 @cindex remote query requests
32561 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
32562 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
32563 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
32564 sending information to and from the stub.
32566 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
32567 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
32568 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
32569 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
32574 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
32576 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
32579 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
32580 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
32581 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
32582 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
32585 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
32586 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
32587 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
32588 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
32589 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
32590 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
32591 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
32592 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
32593 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
32594 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
32597 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
32598 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
32599 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
32600 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
32601 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
32603 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
32607 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
32608 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
32609 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
32610 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
32611 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
32612 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
32613 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
32614 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
32615 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
32616 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
32617 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
32620 @cindex current thread, remote request
32621 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
32622 Return the current thread ID.
32626 @item QC @var{thread-id}
32627 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
32628 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
32629 @item @r{(anything else)}
32630 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
32633 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
32634 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
32635 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
32636 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
32637 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
32638 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
32639 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
32641 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
32642 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
32643 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
32644 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
32645 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
32646 detect trailing zeros.
32651 An error (such as memory fault)
32652 @item C @var{crc32}
32653 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
32657 @itemx qsThreadInfo
32658 @cindex list active threads, remote request
32659 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
32660 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
32661 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
32662 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
32663 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
32664 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
32665 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
32666 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
32668 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
32672 @item m @var{thread-id}
32674 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
32675 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
32677 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
32680 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
32681 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
32682 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
32683 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
32684 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
32685 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
32688 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
32689 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
32690 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
32691 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
32692 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
32694 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
32695 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
32697 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
32698 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
32699 information associated with the variable.)
32701 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
32702 the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
32703 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
32704 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
32705 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
32706 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
32710 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
32711 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
32712 local storage requested.
32715 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
32718 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
32721 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
32722 @cindex get thread information block address
32723 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
32724 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
32726 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
32730 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
32731 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
32732 thread information block.
32735 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
32736 address could not be retrieved.
32739 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
32742 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
32743 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
32744 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
32745 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
32746 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
32747 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
32748 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
32750 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
32754 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
32755 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
32756 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
32757 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
32758 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
32759 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
32760 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
32764 @cindex section offsets, remote request
32765 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
32766 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
32771 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
32772 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
32773 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
32774 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
32775 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
32776 segments by the supplied offsets.
32778 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
32779 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
32780 to the @code{Bss} section.}
32782 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
32783 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
32784 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
32785 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
32786 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
32787 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
32788 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
32789 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
32790 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
32793 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
32794 @cindex thread information, remote request
32795 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
32796 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
32797 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
32798 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
32800 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
32803 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
32807 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
32808 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
32810 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
32811 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
32816 The request succeeded.
32819 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
32822 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
32826 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32827 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32828 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
32829 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
32831 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
32832 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
32833 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
32834 @anchor{QPassSignals}
32835 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
32836 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
32837 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
32838 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
32839 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
32840 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
32841 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
32842 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
32843 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
32848 The request succeeded.
32851 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
32854 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
32858 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
32859 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
32860 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32861 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32863 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
32864 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
32865 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
32866 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
32867 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
32868 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
32869 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
32870 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
32871 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
32876 A command response with no output.
32878 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
32880 Indicate a badly formed request.
32882 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
32885 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
32886 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
32887 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
32890 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
32891 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
32892 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
32893 @anchor{qSearch memory}
32894 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
32895 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
32896 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
32901 The pattern was not found.
32903 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
32905 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
32907 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
32910 @item QStartNoAckMode
32911 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
32912 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
32913 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
32914 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
32919 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
32920 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
32921 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
32922 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
32924 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
32927 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
32928 @cindex supported packets, remote query
32929 @cindex features of the remote protocol
32930 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
32931 @anchor{qSupported}
32932 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
32933 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
32934 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
32935 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
32936 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
32937 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
32938 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
32939 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
32940 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
32941 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
32942 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
32943 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
32944 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
32945 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
32949 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
32950 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
32951 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
32954 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
32955 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
32958 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
32959 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
32963 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
32964 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
32965 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
32966 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
32968 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
32969 need an associated value.
32971 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
32973 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
32974 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
32975 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
32976 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
32979 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
32980 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
32981 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
32982 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
32983 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
32985 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
32990 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
32991 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
32992 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
32993 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
32994 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
32997 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
32998 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
32999 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
33003 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
33004 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
33005 instruction reply packet}).
33008 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
33009 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
33010 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
33011 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
33012 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
33013 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
33014 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
33015 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
33016 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
33017 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
33018 all the features it supports.
33020 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
33021 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
33023 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
33024 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
33025 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
33028 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
33029 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
33030 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
33031 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
33033 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
33034 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
33035 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
33036 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
33037 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
33039 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
33041 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
33042 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
33043 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
33045 @tab Value Required
33049 @item @samp{PacketSize}
33054 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
33059 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
33064 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
33069 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
33074 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
33079 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
33084 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
33089 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
33094 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
33099 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
33105 @item @samp{QNonStop}
33110 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
33115 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
33120 @item @samp{multiprocess}
33125 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
33130 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
33135 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
33140 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
33145 @item @samp{QAllow}
33152 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
33155 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
33156 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
33157 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
33158 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
33159 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
33160 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
33161 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
33162 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
33163 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
33164 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
33166 @item qXfer:auxv:read
33167 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
33168 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
33170 @item qXfer:features:read
33171 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
33172 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
33174 @item qXfer:libraries:read
33175 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
33176 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
33178 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
33179 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
33180 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
33182 @item qXfer:sdata:read
33183 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
33184 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
33186 @item qXfer:spu:read
33187 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
33188 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
33190 @item qXfer:spu:write
33191 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
33192 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
33194 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
33195 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
33196 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
33198 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
33199 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
33200 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
33202 @item qXfer:threads:read
33203 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
33204 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
33207 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
33208 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
33211 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
33212 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
33214 @item QStartNoAckMode
33215 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
33216 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
33219 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
33220 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
33221 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
33222 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
33223 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
33224 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
33225 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
33226 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
33227 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
33228 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
33229 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
33231 @item qXfer:osdata:read
33232 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
33233 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
33235 @item ConditionalTracepoints
33236 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
33237 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
33239 @item ReverseContinue
33240 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
33244 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
33247 @item TracepointSource
33248 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
33249 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
33252 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
33254 @item StaticTracepoint
33255 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
33256 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
33261 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
33262 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
33263 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
33264 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
33269 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
33270 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
33271 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
33272 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
33273 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
33277 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
33278 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
33280 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
33281 target has previously requested.
33283 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
33284 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
33290 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
33291 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
33292 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
33293 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
33294 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
33299 @item QTDisconnected
33306 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
33308 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
33309 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
33310 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
33311 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
33312 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
33313 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
33314 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
33315 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
33316 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
33317 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
33318 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
33322 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
33323 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
33324 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
33325 the thread's attributes.
33328 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
33329 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
33330 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
33345 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
33347 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33348 @cindex read special object, remote request
33349 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
33350 @anchor{qXfer read}
33351 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
33352 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
33353 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
33354 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
33355 additional details about what data to access.
33357 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
33358 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
33359 formats, listed below.
33362 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33363 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
33364 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
33365 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
33367 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33368 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33370 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33371 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
33372 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
33373 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
33374 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
33376 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33377 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33379 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33380 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
33381 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
33382 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
33383 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33385 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
33386 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
33387 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
33389 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33390 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33392 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33393 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
33394 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
33395 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
33396 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33398 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33399 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33401 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33402 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
33404 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
33405 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
33406 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
33409 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33410 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33411 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33413 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33414 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
33415 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
33416 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
33417 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33419 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33420 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33421 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33423 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
33424 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
33425 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
33426 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
33427 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
33428 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
33429 in that context to be accessed.
33431 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33432 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33433 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33435 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33436 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
33437 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
33438 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
33439 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
33441 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33442 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33444 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
33445 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
33446 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
33447 @xref{Operating System Information}.
33454 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
33455 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
33456 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
33457 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
33458 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
33462 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
33463 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
33464 than the @var{length} in the request.
33467 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
33468 There is no more data to be read.
33471 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
33474 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
33475 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
33478 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
33479 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
33482 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
33483 @cindex write data into object, remote request
33484 @anchor{qXfer write}
33485 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
33486 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
33487 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
33488 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
33489 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
33492 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
33493 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
33494 formats, listed below.
33497 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
33498 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
33499 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
33500 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
33501 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
33503 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33504 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
33505 (@pxref{qSupported}).
33507 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
33508 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
33509 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
33510 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
33511 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
33512 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
33513 in that context to be accessed.
33515 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
33516 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33522 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
33523 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
33526 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
33529 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
33530 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
33533 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
33534 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
33537 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
33538 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
33539 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
33540 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
33541 must respond with an empty packet.
33543 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
33544 @cindex query attached, remote request
33545 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
33546 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
33547 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
33548 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
33549 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
33550 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
33551 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
33553 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
33554 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
33555 the @code{quit} command.
33560 The remote server attached to an existing process.
33562 The remote server created a new process.
33564 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
33569 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
33570 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
33572 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
33573 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
33574 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
33578 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
33580 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
33585 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
33588 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
33591 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
33597 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
33599 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
33600 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
33601 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
33602 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
33603 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
33604 most-significant - least-significant.
33610 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
33611 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
33612 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
33616 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
33617 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
33622 @node Tracepoint Packets
33623 @section Tracepoint Packets
33624 @cindex tracepoint packets
33625 @cindex packets, tracepoint
33627 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
33628 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
33632 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
33633 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
33634 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
33635 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
33636 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
33637 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
33638 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
33639 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
33640 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
33641 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
33642 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
33643 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
33649 The packet was understood and carried out.
33651 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
33653 The packet was not recognized.
33656 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
33657 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
33658 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
33659 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
33660 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
33661 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
33662 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
33664 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
33665 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
33666 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
33667 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
33668 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
33669 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
33670 tracepoint actions.
33672 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
33673 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
33679 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
33680 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
33681 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
33682 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
33683 not fit in a 32-bit word.
33685 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
33686 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
33687 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
33688 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
33689 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
33690 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
33691 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
33693 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
33694 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
33695 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
33696 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
33697 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
33698 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
33703 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
33704 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
33705 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
33706 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
33707 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
33708 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
33709 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
33710 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
33715 The packet was understood and carried out.
33717 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
33719 The packet was not recognized.
33722 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
33723 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
33724 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
33725 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
33726 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
33727 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
33728 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
33729 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
33731 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
33732 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
33733 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
33734 fit in a single packet.
33735 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
33736 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
33738 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
33739 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
33740 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
33741 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
33743 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
33744 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
33747 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
33748 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
33749 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
33750 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
33751 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
33752 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
33753 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
33756 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
33757 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
33758 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
33759 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
33760 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
33761 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
33762 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
33763 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
33764 mentioned in expressions.
33766 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
33767 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
33768 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
33769 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
33771 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
33772 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
33773 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
33774 one of the following forms:
33778 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
33779 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
33780 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
33783 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
33784 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
33788 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
33789 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
33790 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
33791 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
33793 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
33794 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
33795 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
33796 is a hexadecimal number.
33798 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
33799 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
33800 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
33801 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
33804 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
33805 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
33806 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
33809 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
33810 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
33811 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
33812 instruction reply packet}).
33815 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
33818 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
33820 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
33821 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
33822 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
33823 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
33825 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
33826 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
33827 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
33828 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
33830 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
33831 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
33832 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
33833 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
33834 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
33837 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
33839 The reply has the form:
33843 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
33844 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
33845 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
33846 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
33850 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
33851 explanations as one of the optional fields:
33856 No trace has been run yet.
33859 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command.
33862 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
33864 @item tdisconnected:0
33865 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
33867 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
33868 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
33870 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
33871 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
33872 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
33873 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
33874 @var{text} is hex encoded.
33877 The trace stopped for some other reason.
33881 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
33882 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
33883 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
33884 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
33889 @item tframes:@var{n}
33890 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
33892 @item tcreated:@var{n}
33893 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
33894 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
33896 @item tsize:@var{n}
33897 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
33899 @item tfree:@var{n}
33900 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
33902 @item circular:@var{n}
33903 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
33904 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
33905 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
33908 @item disconn:@var{n}
33909 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
33910 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
33911 that the trace run will stop.
33915 @item qTV:@var{var}
33916 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
33917 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
33918 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
33923 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
33924 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
33925 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
33926 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
33927 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
33928 program is running.
33931 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
33932 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
33938 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
33939 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
33940 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
33941 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
33942 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
33946 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
33947 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
33948 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
33949 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
33950 trace state variables.
33954 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
33955 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
33956 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
33957 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
33961 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
33963 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
33964 a comma-separated list of markers
33966 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
33968 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
33970 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
33974 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
33975 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
33977 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
33978 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
33979 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
33980 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
33983 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
33984 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
33985 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
33986 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
33987 tracepoint markers.
33989 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
33990 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
33991 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
33992 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
33993 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
33995 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
33996 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
33997 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
33998 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
33999 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
34000 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
34001 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
34004 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
34005 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
34006 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
34010 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
34011 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
34012 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
34013 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
34014 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
34015 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
34016 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
34017 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
34018 it had executed in the original location.
34020 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
34021 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
34022 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
34023 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
34024 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
34025 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
34026 format of the request is:
34029 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
34031 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
34032 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
34033 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
34034 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
34035 memory starting at @var{to}.
34040 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
34041 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
34042 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
34044 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
34045 relocating the instruction.
34048 @node Host I/O Packets
34049 @section Host I/O Packets
34050 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
34051 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
34053 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
34054 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
34055 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
34056 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
34057 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
34058 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
34059 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
34060 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
34061 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
34062 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
34064 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
34065 its arguments. They have this format:
34069 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
34070 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
34071 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
34072 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
34073 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
34074 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
34075 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
34076 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
34077 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
34081 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
34085 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
34086 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
34087 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
34088 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
34089 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
34090 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
34091 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
34092 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
34093 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
34097 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
34101 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
34104 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
34105 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
34106 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
34107 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
34108 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
34109 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
34110 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
34112 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
34113 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
34114 -1 if an error occurs.
34116 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
34117 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
34118 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
34119 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
34120 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
34121 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
34122 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
34123 @var{count} was zero.
34125 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
34126 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
34127 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
34128 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
34129 some characters were escaped.
34131 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
34132 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
34133 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
34134 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
34135 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
34136 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
34137 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
34140 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
34141 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
34142 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
34147 @section Interrupts
34148 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
34150 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
34151 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
34152 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
34153 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
34155 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
34156 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
34157 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
34158 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
34159 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
34161 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
34162 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
34163 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
34164 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
34165 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
34166 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
34167 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
34168 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
34170 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
34171 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
34172 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
34174 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
34175 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
34176 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
34177 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
34178 currently-executing threads and processes.
34179 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
34180 running program, it should send one of the stop
34181 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
34182 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
34183 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
34184 Interrupts received while the
34185 program is stopped are discarded.
34187 @node Notification Packets
34188 @section Notification Packets
34189 @cindex notification packets
34190 @cindex packets, notification
34192 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
34193 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
34194 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
34195 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
34196 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
34197 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
34200 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
34201 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
34202 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
34203 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
34204 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
34205 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
34206 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
34208 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
34209 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
34211 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
34212 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
34213 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
34214 not they understand it.
34216 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
34217 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
34218 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
34219 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
34222 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
34223 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
34224 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
34225 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
34226 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
34228 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
34232 @item Stop: @var{reply}
34233 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
34234 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
34235 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
34236 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
34240 @node Remote Non-Stop
34241 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
34243 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
34244 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
34245 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
34246 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34248 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
34249 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
34250 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
34251 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
34252 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
34253 probe the target state after a mode change.
34255 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
34256 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
34257 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
34258 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
34259 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
34260 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
34261 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
34262 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
34263 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
34264 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
34265 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
34267 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
34268 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
34269 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
34270 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
34271 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
34272 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
34273 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
34274 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
34275 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
34276 sending any queued stop events.
34278 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
34279 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
34280 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
34281 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
34282 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
34283 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
34284 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
34286 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
34287 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
34288 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
34289 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
34290 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
34293 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
34294 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
34295 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
34296 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
34297 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
34298 should process normally.
34300 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
34301 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
34302 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
34303 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
34304 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
34306 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
34307 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
34308 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
34309 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
34310 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
34311 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
34312 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
34313 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
34314 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
34315 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
34316 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
34319 @node Packet Acknowledgment
34320 @section Packet Acknowledgment
34322 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
34323 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
34324 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
34325 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
34326 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
34327 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
34328 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
34330 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
34331 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
34332 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
34333 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
34334 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
34336 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
34337 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
34338 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
34339 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
34341 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
34342 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
34343 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
34344 @pxref{qSupported}.
34345 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
34346 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
34347 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
34348 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
34349 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
34350 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
34351 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
34353 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
34354 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
34355 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
34357 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
34358 new connection is established,
34359 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
34360 for the current connection, once disabled.
34365 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
34366 does not get any direct output:
34371 @emph{target restarts}
34374 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
34378 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
34381 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
34386 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
34390 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
34394 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
34395 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
34396 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
34399 * File-I/O Overview::
34400 * Protocol Basics::
34401 * The F Request Packet::
34402 * The F Reply Packet::
34403 * The Ctrl-C Message::
34405 * List of Supported Calls::
34406 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
34408 * File-I/O Examples::
34411 @node File-I/O Overview
34412 @subsection File-I/O Overview
34413 @cindex file-i/o overview
34415 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
34416 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
34417 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
34418 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
34419 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
34420 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
34422 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
34423 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
34424 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
34425 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
34426 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
34428 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
34429 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
34430 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
34431 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
34432 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
34433 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
34434 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
34436 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
34437 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
34438 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
34439 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
34440 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
34443 (@value{GDBP}) continue
34444 <- target requests 'system call X'
34445 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
34446 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
34447 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
34448 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
34451 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
34452 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
34453 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
34454 system are not supported by this protocol.
34456 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
34458 @node Protocol Basics
34459 @subsection Protocol Basics
34460 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
34462 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
34463 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
34464 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
34465 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
34466 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
34467 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
34468 to call the appropriate host system call:
34472 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
34475 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
34476 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
34477 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
34478 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
34482 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
34486 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
34487 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
34488 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
34489 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
34493 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
34494 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
34497 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
34500 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
34503 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
34504 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
34505 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
34506 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
34511 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
34512 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
34519 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
34526 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
34527 the latest continue or step action.
34529 @node The F Request Packet
34530 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
34531 @cindex file-i/o request packet
34532 @cindex @code{F} request packet
34534 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
34537 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
34539 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
34540 This is just the name of the function.
34542 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
34543 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
34544 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
34545 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
34546 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
34547 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
34548 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
34554 @node The F Reply Packet
34555 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
34556 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
34557 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
34559 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
34563 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
34565 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
34567 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
34569 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
34571 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
34572 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
34573 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
34580 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
34587 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
34592 @node The Ctrl-C Message
34593 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
34594 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
34596 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
34597 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
34598 the target should behave as if it had
34599 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
34600 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
34601 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
34604 It's important for the target to know in which
34605 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
34609 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
34612 The system call on the host has been finished.
34616 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
34617 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
34618 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
34619 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
34620 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
34621 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
34623 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
34624 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
34625 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
34626 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
34627 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
34628 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
34629 or the full action has been completed.
34632 @subsection Console I/O
34633 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
34635 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
34636 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
34637 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
34638 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
34639 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
34640 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
34645 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
34647 system call is treated as finished.
34650 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
34654 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
34655 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
34659 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
34660 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
34661 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
34662 is stopped at the user's request.
34665 @node List of Supported Calls
34666 @subsection List of Supported Calls
34667 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
34684 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
34685 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
34690 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
34691 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
34695 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
34698 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
34702 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
34703 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
34707 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
34708 an error and open() fails.
34711 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
34712 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
34713 truncated to zero length.
34716 The file is opened in append mode.
34719 The file is opened for reading only.
34722 The file is opened for writing only.
34725 The file is opened for reading and writing.
34729 Other bits are silently ignored.
34733 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
34737 User has read permission.
34740 User has write permission.
34743 Group has read permission.
34746 Group has write permission.
34749 Others have read permission.
34752 Others have write permission.
34756 Other bits are silently ignored.
34759 @item Return value:
34760 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
34767 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
34770 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
34773 The requested access is not allowed.
34776 @var{pathname} was too long.
34779 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
34782 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
34785 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
34786 write access was requested.
34789 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
34792 No space on device to create the file.
34795 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
34798 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
34802 The call was interrupted by the user.
34808 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
34809 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
34818 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
34820 @item Return value:
34821 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
34827 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
34830 The call was interrupted by the user.
34836 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
34837 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
34842 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
34846 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
34848 @item Return value:
34849 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
34850 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
34851 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
34857 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
34861 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
34864 The call was interrupted by the user.
34870 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
34871 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
34876 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
34880 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
34882 @item Return value:
34883 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
34884 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
34891 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
34895 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
34898 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
34899 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
34902 No space on device to write the data.
34905 The call was interrupted by the user.
34911 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
34912 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
34917 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
34921 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
34923 @var{flag} is one of:
34927 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
34930 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
34934 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
34938 @item Return value:
34939 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
34940 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
34941 value of -1 is returned.
34947 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
34950 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
34953 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
34956 The call was interrupted by the user.
34962 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
34963 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
34968 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
34972 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
34974 @item Return value:
34975 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
34981 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
34985 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
34988 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
34992 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
34996 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
34997 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
34998 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
35001 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
35004 No access to the file or the path of the file.
35008 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
35011 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
35014 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
35017 The device containing the file has no room for the new
35021 The call was interrupted by the user.
35027 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
35028 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
35033 int unlink(const char *pathname);
35037 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
35039 @item Return value:
35040 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
35046 No access to the file or the path of the file.
35049 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
35052 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
35053 being used by another process.
35056 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
35059 @var{pathname} was too long.
35062 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
35065 A component of the path is not a directory.
35068 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
35071 The call was interrupted by the user.
35077 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
35078 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
35079 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
35084 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
35085 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
35089 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
35090 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
35092 @item Return value:
35093 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
35099 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
35102 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
35103 path is an empty string.
35106 A component of the path is not a directory.
35109 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
35112 No access to the file or the path of the file.
35115 @var{pathname} was too long.
35118 The call was interrupted by the user.
35124 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
35125 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
35130 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
35134 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
35136 @item Return value:
35137 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
35143 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
35146 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
35152 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
35153 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
35158 int isatty(int fd);
35162 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
35164 @item Return value:
35165 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
35171 The call was interrupted by the user.
35176 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
35177 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
35178 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
35179 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
35184 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
35185 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
35190 int system(const char *command);
35194 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
35196 @item Return value:
35197 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
35198 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
35199 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
35200 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
35201 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
35202 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
35203 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
35209 The call was interrupted by the user.
35214 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
35215 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
35216 the host is simplified before it's returned
35217 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
35218 is discarded, and the return value consists
35219 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
35221 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
35222 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
35223 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
35226 @item set remote system-call-allowed
35227 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
35228 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
35229 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
35231 @item show remote system-call-allowed
35232 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
35233 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
35237 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
35238 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
35239 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
35242 * Integral Datatypes::
35244 * Memory Transfer::
35249 @node Integral Datatypes
35250 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
35251 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
35253 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
35254 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
35255 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
35257 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
35258 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
35260 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
35262 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
35263 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
35265 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
35267 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
35268 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
35271 @node Pointer Values
35272 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
35273 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
35275 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
35276 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
35277 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
35278 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
35285 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
35286 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
35287 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
35288 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
35294 @node Memory Transfer
35295 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
35296 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
35298 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
35299 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
35300 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
35301 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
35302 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
35303 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
35304 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
35308 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
35309 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
35311 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
35312 is defined as follows:
35316 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
35317 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
35318 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
35319 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
35320 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
35321 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
35322 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
35323 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
35324 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
35325 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
35326 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
35327 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
35328 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
35332 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
35333 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
35334 structure is of size 64 bytes.
35336 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
35342 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
35345 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
35348 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
35349 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
35354 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
35359 These values have a host and file system dependent
35360 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
35361 support exact timing values.
35364 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
35365 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
35368 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
35369 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
35370 get truncated on the target.
35372 @node struct timeval
35373 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
35374 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
35376 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
35377 is defined as follows:
35381 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
35382 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
35386 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
35387 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
35388 structure is of size 8 bytes.
35391 @subsection Constants
35392 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
35394 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
35395 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
35396 values before and after the call as needed.
35407 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
35408 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
35410 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
35422 @node mode_t Values
35423 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
35424 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
35426 All values are given in octal representation.
35443 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
35444 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
35446 All values are given in decimal representation.
35471 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
35472 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
35475 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
35476 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
35485 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
35486 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
35488 All values are given in decimal representation.
35491 INT_MIN -2147483648
35493 UINT_MAX 4294967295
35494 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
35495 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
35496 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
35499 @node File-I/O Examples
35500 @subsection File-I/O Examples
35501 @cindex file-i/o examples
35503 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
35504 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
35507 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
35508 @emph{request memory read from target}
35511 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
35515 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
35516 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
35519 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35520 @emph{request memory write to target}
35521 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
35522 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
35526 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
35527 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
35530 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35534 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
35538 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35543 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
35547 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
35548 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
35552 @node Library List Format
35553 @section Library List Format
35554 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
35556 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
35557 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
35558 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
35559 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
35560 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
35561 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
35562 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
35563 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
35564 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
35567 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
35568 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
35569 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
35570 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
35572 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
35573 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
35574 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
35575 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
35576 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
35577 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
35579 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
35580 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
35582 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
35583 offset, looks like this:
35587 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
35588 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
35593 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
35594 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
35598 <library name="sharedlib.o">
35599 <section address="0x10000000"/>
35600 <section address="0x20000000"/>
35601 <section address="0x30000000"/>
35606 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
35609 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
35610 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
35611 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
35612 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
35613 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
35614 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
35615 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
35616 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
35617 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
35620 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
35621 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
35622 section for each library.
35624 @node Memory Map Format
35625 @section Memory Map Format
35626 @cindex memory map format
35628 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
35629 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
35632 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
35633 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
35634 lists memory regions.
35636 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
35637 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
35639 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
35642 <?xml version="1.0"?>
35643 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
35644 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
35645 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
35651 Each region can be either:
35656 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
35660 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
35665 A region of read-only memory:
35668 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
35673 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
35677 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
35678 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
35684 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
35685 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
35686 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
35688 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
35691 <!-- ................................................... -->
35692 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
35693 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
35694 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
35695 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
35696 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
35697 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
35698 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
35699 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
35700 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
35701 and its type, or device. -->
35702 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
35703 start CDATA #REQUIRED
35704 length CDATA #REQUIRED
35705 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
35706 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
35707 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
35708 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
35711 @node Thread List Format
35712 @section Thread List Format
35713 @cindex thread list format
35715 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
35716 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
35717 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
35718 the following structure:
35721 <?xml version="1.0"?>
35723 <thread id="id" core="0">
35724 ... description ...
35729 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
35730 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
35731 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
35732 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
35733 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
35735 @include agentexpr.texi
35737 @node Trace File Format
35738 @appendix Trace File Format
35739 @cindex trace file format
35741 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
35742 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
35744 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
35745 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
35746 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
35749 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
35750 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
35751 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
35752 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
35753 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
35756 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
35758 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
35759 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
35760 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
35761 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
35762 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
35763 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
35764 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
35767 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
35770 @item R @var{bytes}
35771 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
35772 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
35773 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
35774 hexadecimal encoding.
35776 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
35777 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
35778 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
35779 @var{length} bytes.
35781 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
35782 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
35783 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
35787 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
35790 @node Target Descriptions
35791 @appendix Target Descriptions
35792 @cindex target descriptions
35794 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
35795 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
35796 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
35798 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
35799 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
35800 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
35801 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
35802 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
35803 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
35804 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
35808 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
35809 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
35811 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
35812 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
35813 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
35815 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
35816 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
35817 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
35820 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
35821 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
35822 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
35823 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
35824 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
35826 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
35827 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
35830 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
35831 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
35832 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
35834 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
35837 @node Retrieving Descriptions
35838 @section Retrieving Descriptions
35840 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
35841 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
35842 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
35843 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
35844 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
35845 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
35846 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
35849 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
35850 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
35851 specify a file are:
35854 @cindex set tdesc filename
35855 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
35856 Read the target description from @var{path}.
35858 @cindex unset tdesc filename
35859 @item unset tdesc filename
35860 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
35861 will use the description supplied by the current target.
35863 @cindex show tdesc filename
35864 @item show tdesc filename
35865 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
35869 @node Target Description Format
35870 @section Target Description Format
35871 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
35873 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
35874 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
35875 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
35876 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
35877 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
35878 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
35879 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
35881 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
35882 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
35883 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
35884 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
35885 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
35887 Here is a simple target description:
35890 <target version="1.0">
35891 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
35896 This minimal description only says that the target uses
35897 the x86-64 architecture.
35899 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
35900 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
35901 are explained further below.
35904 <?xml version="1.0"?>
35905 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
35906 <target version="1.0">
35907 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
35908 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
35909 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
35910 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
35915 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
35916 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
35917 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
35918 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
35919 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
35920 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
35921 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
35922 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
35923 the version mismatch.
35925 @subsection Inclusion
35926 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
35929 @cindex <xi:include>
35932 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
35933 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
35934 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
35935 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
35936 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
35939 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
35943 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
35944 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
35945 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
35946 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
35947 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
35948 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
35949 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
35950 original description.
35952 @subsection Architecture
35953 @cindex <architecture>
35955 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
35958 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
35961 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
35962 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
35965 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
35967 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
35968 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
35970 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
35973 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
35976 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
35977 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
35979 @subsection Compatible Architecture
35980 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
35982 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
35983 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
35985 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
35988 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
35991 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
35992 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
35994 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
35995 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
35996 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
35997 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
35998 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
35999 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
36000 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
36003 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
36004 <compatible>spu</compatible>
36007 @subsection Features
36010 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
36011 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
36012 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
36016 <feature name="@var{name}">
36017 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
36023 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
36024 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
36025 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
36026 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
36030 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
36031 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
36032 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
36033 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
36034 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
36036 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
36037 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
36038 Types must be defined before they are used.
36041 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
36042 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
36043 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
36047 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
36051 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
36052 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
36053 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
36054 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
36057 <union id="@var{id}">
36058 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
36064 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
36065 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
36066 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
36067 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
36068 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
36069 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
36070 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
36071 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
36074 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
36075 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
36080 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
36081 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
36084 <struct id="@var{id}">
36085 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
36091 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
36092 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
36093 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
36094 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
36098 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
36099 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
36104 @subsection Registers
36107 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
36110 <reg name="@var{name}"
36111 bitsize="@var{size}"
36112 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
36113 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
36114 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
36115 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
36119 The components are as follows:
36124 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
36127 The register's size, in bits.
36130 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
36131 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
36132 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
36133 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
36134 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
36135 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
36136 in order of increasing register number.
36139 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
36140 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
36141 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
36142 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
36146 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
36147 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
36148 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
36149 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
36150 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
36151 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
36154 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
36155 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
36156 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
36157 in @code{info registers}.
36161 @node Predefined Target Types
36162 @section Predefined Target Types
36163 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
36165 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
36166 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
36167 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
36168 types. The currently supported types are:
36177 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
36184 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
36188 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
36189 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
36190 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
36191 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
36192 may be marked as data pointers.
36195 Single precision IEEE floating point.
36198 Double precision IEEE floating point.
36201 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
36204 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
36207 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
36210 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
36214 @node Standard Target Features
36215 @section Standard Target Features
36216 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
36218 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
36219 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
36220 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
36221 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
36222 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
36223 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
36224 can recognize them.
36226 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
36227 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
36228 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
36229 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
36230 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
36231 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
36232 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
36233 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
36235 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
36236 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
36237 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
36239 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
36240 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
36241 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
36242 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
36244 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
36245 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
36246 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
36253 * PowerPC Features::
36258 @subsection ARM Features
36259 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
36261 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
36263 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
36264 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
36266 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
36267 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
36268 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
36271 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
36272 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
36274 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
36275 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
36276 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
36277 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
36279 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
36280 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
36281 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
36282 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
36283 halves of the double-precision registers.
36285 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
36286 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
36287 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
36288 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
36289 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
36290 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
36292 @node i386 Features
36293 @subsection i386 Features
36294 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
36296 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
36297 targets. It should describe the following registers:
36301 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
36303 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
36305 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
36306 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
36308 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
36310 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
36311 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
36314 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
36316 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
36317 describe registers:
36321 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
36323 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
36328 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
36329 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
36330 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
36334 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
36336 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
36339 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
36340 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
36342 @node MIPS Features
36343 @subsection MIPS Features
36344 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
36346 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
36347 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
36348 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
36351 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
36352 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
36353 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
36355 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
36356 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
36357 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
36358 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
36360 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
36361 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
36362 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
36364 @node M68K Features
36365 @subsection M68K Features
36366 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
36369 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
36370 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
36371 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
36372 One of those features must be always present.
36373 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
36374 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
36375 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
36376 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
36378 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
36379 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
36380 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
36384 @node PowerPC Features
36385 @subsection PowerPC Features
36386 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
36388 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
36389 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
36390 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
36391 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
36393 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
36394 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
36396 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
36397 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
36400 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
36401 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
36402 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
36403 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
36404 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
36405 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
36407 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
36408 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
36409 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
36410 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
36411 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
36412 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
36415 @node Operating System Information
36416 @appendix Operating System Information
36417 @cindex operating system information
36423 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
36424 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
36425 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
36426 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
36427 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
36428 on a different aspect of target.
36430 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
36431 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
36432 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
36433 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
36436 @appendixsection Process list
36437 @cindex operating system information, process list
36439 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
36440 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
36441 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
36442 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
36444 An example document is:
36447 <?xml version="1.0"?>
36448 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
36449 <osdata type="processes">
36451 <column name="pid">1</column>
36452 <column name="user">root</column>
36453 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
36454 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
36459 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
36460 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
36461 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
36462 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
36463 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
36464 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
36465 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
36469 @node GNU Free Documentation License
36470 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
36479 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
36481 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
36482 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
36483 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
36484 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
36485 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
36486 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
36487 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
36488 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
36489 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
36491 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.