1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-2018 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
23 @c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
24 @c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
25 @c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
26 @c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
30 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
31 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
34 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
35 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
38 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
41 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
43 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
44 @c manuals to an info tree.
45 @dircategory Software development
47 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
48 * gdbserver: (gdb) Server. The GNU debugging server.
52 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
53 Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2018 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
55 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
56 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
57 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
58 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
59 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
60 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
62 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
63 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
64 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
69 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
71 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
72 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
73 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
74 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
76 Version @value{GDBVN}.
82 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
83 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
85 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
86 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
88 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
90 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
94 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
95 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
96 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
100 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
101 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
102 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
103 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
104 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
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) 1988-2018 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.
163 * In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
165 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
167 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
168 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
169 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
171 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
172 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
173 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
175 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
176 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
177 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
178 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
179 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
180 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
181 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
183 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
185 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
186 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
187 * Man Pages:: Manual pages
188 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
189 how you can copy and share GDB
190 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
191 * Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
192 * Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
193 functions, and Python data types
201 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
203 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
204 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
205 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
207 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
208 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
212 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
215 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
218 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
221 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
222 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
225 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
226 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
227 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
229 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
233 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
234 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
236 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
237 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
240 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
241 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
242 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
246 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
247 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
250 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
251 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
254 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
255 * Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
256 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
260 @unnumberedsec Free Software
262 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
263 General Public License
264 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
265 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
266 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
267 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
268 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
269 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
271 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
272 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
275 @node Free Documentation
276 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
278 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
279 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
280 include with the free software. Many of our most important
281 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
282 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
283 when an important free software package does not come with a free
284 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
287 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
288 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
289 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
290 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
291 them from the free software world.
293 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
294 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
295 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
296 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
297 contract to make it non-free.
299 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
300 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
301 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
302 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
303 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
304 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
305 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
307 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
308 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
309 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
310 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
312 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
313 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
314 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
315 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
316 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
317 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
320 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
321 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
322 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
323 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
324 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
325 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
326 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
327 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
330 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
331 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
332 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
333 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
334 manual to replace it.
336 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
337 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
338 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
339 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
340 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
341 the free software community.
343 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
344 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
345 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
346 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
347 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
348 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
349 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
350 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
351 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
353 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
354 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
355 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
356 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
357 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
358 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
359 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
360 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
362 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
363 published by other publishers, at
364 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
367 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
369 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
370 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
371 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
372 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
373 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
374 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
375 blow-by-blow account.
377 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
380 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
381 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
382 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
385 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
386 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
388 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
389 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
390 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
391 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
392 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
393 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
394 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
395 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
396 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
398 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
399 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
401 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
402 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
403 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
404 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
405 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
407 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
408 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
409 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
411 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
412 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
414 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
416 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
417 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
419 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
420 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
421 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
422 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
423 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
424 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
425 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
426 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
427 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
428 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
429 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
430 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
431 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
432 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
433 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
434 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
436 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
438 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
441 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
442 about several machine instruction sets.
444 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
445 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
446 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
447 and RDI targets, respectively.
449 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
450 command-line editing and command history.
452 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
453 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
455 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
456 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
459 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
460 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
462 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
464 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
467 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
469 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
471 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
473 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
476 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
478 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
480 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
481 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
483 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
484 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
485 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
486 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
487 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
488 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
489 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
491 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
492 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
494 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
495 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
496 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
497 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
498 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
499 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
500 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
501 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
502 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
503 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
504 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
505 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
506 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
507 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
508 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
510 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
511 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
513 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
516 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
517 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
518 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
519 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
520 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
521 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
523 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
524 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
525 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
526 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
527 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
528 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
529 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
530 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
531 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
532 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
533 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
536 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
537 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
538 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
539 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
541 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
542 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
544 Initial support for the FreeBSD/mips target and native configuration
545 was developed by SRI International and the University of Cambridge
546 Computer Laboratory under DARPA/AFRL contract FA8750-10-C-0237
547 ("CTSRD"), as part of the DARPA CRASH research programme.
549 The original port to the OpenRISC 1000 is believed to be due to
550 Alessandro Forin and Per Bothner. More recent ports have been the work
551 of Jeremy Bennett, Franck Jullien, Stefan Wallentowitz and
555 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
557 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
558 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
559 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
562 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
563 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
566 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
567 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
569 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
570 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
571 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
572 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
573 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
574 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
575 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
576 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
577 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
586 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
590 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
592 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
595 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
599 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
602 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
603 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
604 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
605 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
606 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
608 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
611 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
616 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
617 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
618 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
619 that examples fit in this manual.
622 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
626 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
627 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
628 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
629 @code{break} command.
632 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
633 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
637 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
638 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
639 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
642 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
643 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
651 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
652 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
653 context where it stops.
656 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
658 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
660 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
664 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
665 the next line of the current function.
669 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
674 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
675 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
676 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
677 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
681 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
683 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
687 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
688 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
689 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
690 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
691 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
692 stack frame for each active subroutine.
695 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
696 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
698 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
700 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
701 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
703 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
704 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
708 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
709 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
710 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
714 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
716 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
717 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
719 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
722 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
726 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
727 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
728 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
729 (@code{print}) to see their values.
732 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
733 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
734 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
735 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
739 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
740 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
741 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
747 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
749 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
752 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
753 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
760 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
761 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
765 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
768 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
770 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
775 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
776 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
777 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
778 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
779 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
783 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
785 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
790 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
791 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
792 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
793 example that caused trouble initially:
799 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
806 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
807 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
808 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
812 Program exited normally.
816 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
817 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
818 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
821 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
825 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
827 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
831 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
833 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
837 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
838 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
839 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
840 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
844 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
846 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
847 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
849 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
850 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
852 The command-line options described here are designed
853 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
854 options may effectively be unavailable.
856 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
857 specifying an executable program:
860 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
864 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
868 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
871 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
872 to debug a running process:
875 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
879 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
880 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
882 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
883 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
884 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
885 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
886 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
888 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
889 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
892 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
894 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
895 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
897 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
898 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{--silent}
899 (or @code{-q}/@code{--quiet}):
902 @value{GDBP} --silent
906 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
907 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
917 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
918 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
920 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
921 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
922 @samp{-x} option is used.
926 * File Options:: Choosing files
927 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
928 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
932 @subsection Choosing Files
934 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
935 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
936 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
937 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
938 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
939 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
940 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
941 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
942 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
943 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
944 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
945 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
946 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
948 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
949 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
950 argument and ignore it.
952 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
953 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
954 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
955 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
956 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
958 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
959 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
963 @item -symbols @var{file}
965 @cindex @code{--symbols}
967 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
969 @item -exec @var{file}
971 @cindex @code{--exec}
973 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
974 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
978 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
981 @item -core @var{file}
983 @cindex @code{--core}
985 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
987 @item -pid @var{number}
988 @itemx -p @var{number}
991 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
993 @item -command @var{file}
995 @cindex @code{--command}
997 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
998 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
999 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
1001 @item -eval-command @var{command}
1002 @itemx -ex @var{command}
1003 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
1005 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
1007 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
1008 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
1011 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1012 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1015 @item -init-command @var{file}
1016 @itemx -ix @var{file}
1017 @cindex @code{--init-command}
1019 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1020 after loading gdbinit files).
1023 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1024 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1025 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1027 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1028 after loading gdbinit files).
1031 @item -directory @var{directory}
1032 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1033 @cindex @code{--directory}
1035 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1039 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1041 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1042 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1043 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1046 @anchor{--readnever}
1047 @cindex @code{--readnever}, command-line option
1048 Do not read each symbol file's symbolic debug information. This makes
1049 startup faster but at the expense of not being able to perform
1050 symbolic debugging. DWARF unwind information is also not read,
1051 meaning backtraces may become incomplete or inaccurate. One use of
1052 this is when a user simply wants to do the following sequence: attach,
1053 dump core, detach. Loading the debugging information in this case is
1054 an unnecessary cause of delay.
1058 @subsection Choosing Modes
1060 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1061 batch mode or quiet mode.
1069 Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1070 There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1073 @item @file{system.gdbinit}
1074 This is the system-wide init file.
1075 Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1076 configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1077 It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1078 have been processed.
1079 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1080 This is the init file in your home directory.
1081 It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1082 command options have been processed.
1083 @item @file{./.gdbinit}
1084 This is the init file in the current directory.
1085 It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1086 @code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1087 @code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1090 For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1091 For documentation on how to write command files,
1092 @xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1097 Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1098 in your home directory.
1104 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1105 @cindex @code{--silent}
1107 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1108 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1111 @cindex @code{--batch}
1112 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1113 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1114 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1115 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1116 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1117 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1118 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1120 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1121 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1122 make this more useful, the message
1125 Program exited normally.
1129 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1130 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1134 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1135 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1136 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1137 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1138 for an interactive session.
1140 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1141 messages, for example.
1143 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1144 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1146 @item -return-child-result
1147 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1148 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1149 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1153 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1154 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1155 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1157 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1159 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1160 the exit code will be -1.
1163 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1164 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1169 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1171 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1172 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1173 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1177 @cindex @code{--windows}
1179 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1182 @item -cd @var{directory}
1184 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1185 instead of the current directory.
1187 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1188 @itemx -D @var{directory}
1189 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1191 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1192 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1193 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1197 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1199 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1200 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1201 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1202 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1203 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1204 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1205 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1206 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1209 @item -annotate @var{level}
1210 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1211 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1212 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1213 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1214 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1215 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1216 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1217 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1218 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1220 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1224 @cindex @code{--args}
1225 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1226 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1227 This option stops option processing.
1229 @item -baud @var{bps}
1231 @cindex @code{--baud}
1233 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1234 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1236 @item -l @var{timeout}
1238 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1239 for remote debugging.
1241 @item -tty @var{device}
1242 @itemx -t @var{device}
1243 @cindex @code{--tty}
1245 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1246 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1248 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1250 @cindex @code{--tui}
1251 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1252 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1253 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1254 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1255 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1256 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1258 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1259 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1260 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1261 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1262 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1263 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1265 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1266 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1267 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1268 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1269 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1270 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1273 @cindex @code{--write}
1274 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1275 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1279 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1280 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1281 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1284 @cindex @code{--version}
1285 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1286 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1288 @item -configuration
1289 @cindex @code{--configuration}
1290 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1291 configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1292 important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1297 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1298 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1300 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1304 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1305 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1309 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1310 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1311 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1314 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1316 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1317 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1318 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1321 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1323 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1324 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1325 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1326 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1330 Processes command line options and operands.
1332 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1334 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1335 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1336 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1337 This is only done if the current directory is
1338 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1339 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1340 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1344 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1345 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1346 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1347 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1349 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1350 you must do something like the following:
1353 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1356 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1360 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1361 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1362 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1365 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1366 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1367 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1370 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1371 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1372 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1373 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1374 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1375 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1377 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1378 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1380 @cindex init file name
1381 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1382 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1383 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1384 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1385 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1386 port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1387 @file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1388 and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1392 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1393 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1394 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1397 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1398 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1399 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1401 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1402 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1403 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1404 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1409 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1410 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1411 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1412 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1413 until a time when it is safe.
1415 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1416 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1417 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1419 @node Shell Commands
1420 @section Shell Commands
1422 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1423 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1424 just use the @code{shell} command.
1429 @cindex shell escape
1430 @item shell @var{command-string}
1431 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1432 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1433 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1434 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1435 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1436 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1439 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1440 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1445 @cindex calling make
1446 @item make @var{make-args}
1447 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1448 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1451 @node Logging Output
1452 @section Logging Output
1453 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1454 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1456 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1457 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1461 @item set logging on
1463 @item set logging off
1465 @cindex logging file name
1466 @item set logging file @var{file}
1467 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1468 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1469 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1470 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1471 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1472 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1473 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1474 @kindex show logging
1476 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1480 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1482 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1483 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1484 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1485 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1486 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1489 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1490 * Completion:: Command completion
1491 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1494 @node Command Syntax
1495 @section Command Syntax
1497 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1498 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1499 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1500 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1501 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1502 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1504 @cindex abbreviation
1505 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1506 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1507 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1508 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1509 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1510 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1511 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1513 @cindex repeating commands
1514 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1515 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1516 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1517 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1518 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1519 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1520 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1522 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1523 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1524 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1526 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1527 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1528 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1529 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1530 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1532 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1534 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1535 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1536 Files,,Command Files}).
1538 @cindex repeating command sequences
1539 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1540 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1541 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1542 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1546 @section Command Completion
1549 @cindex word completion
1550 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1551 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1552 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1553 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1555 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1556 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1557 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1558 enter it). For example, if you type
1560 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1561 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1562 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1563 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1565 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1569 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1570 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1573 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1577 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1578 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1579 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1580 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1581 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1582 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1584 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1585 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1586 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1587 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1588 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1589 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1590 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1591 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1595 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1596 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1597 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1598 make_abs_section make_function_type
1599 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1600 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1601 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1602 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1606 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1607 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1610 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1611 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1612 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1613 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1614 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1616 If the number of possible completions is large, @value{GDBN} will
1617 print as much of the list as it has collected, as well as a message
1618 indicating that the list may be truncated.
1621 (@value{GDBP}) b m@key{TAB}@key{TAB}
1623 <... the rest of the possible completions ...>
1624 *** List may be truncated, max-completions reached. ***
1629 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands:
1632 @kindex set max-completions
1633 @item set max-completions @var{limit}
1634 @itemx set max-completions unlimited
1635 Set the maximum number of completion candidates. @value{GDBN} will
1636 stop looking for more completions once it collects this many candidates.
1637 This is useful when completing on things like function names as collecting
1638 all the possible candidates can be time consuming.
1639 The default value is 200. A value of zero disables tab-completion.
1640 Note that setting either no limit or a very large limit can make
1642 @kindex show max-completions
1643 @item show max-completions
1644 Show the maximum number of candidates that @value{GDBN} will collect and show
1648 @cindex quotes in commands
1649 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1650 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1651 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1652 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1653 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1654 @value{GDBN} commands.
1656 A likely situation where you might need this is in typing an
1657 expression that involves a C@t{++} symbol name with template
1658 parameters. This is because when completing expressions, GDB treats
1659 the @samp{<} character as word delimiter, assuming that it's the
1660 less-than comparison operator (@pxref{C Operators, , C and C@t{++}
1663 For example, when you want to call a C@t{++} template function
1664 interactively using the @code{print} or @code{call} commands, you may
1665 need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name} that
1666 was specialized for @code{int}, @code{name<int>()}, or the version
1667 that was specialized for @code{float}, @code{name<float>()}. To use
1668 the word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1669 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1670 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1671 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1674 (@value{GDBP}) p 'func< @kbd{M-?}
1675 func<int>() func<float>()
1676 (@value{GDBP}) p 'func<
1679 When setting breakpoints however (@pxref{Specify Location}), you don't
1680 usually need to type a quote before the function name, because
1681 @value{GDBN} understands that you want to set a breakpoint on a
1685 (@value{GDBP}) b func< @kbd{M-?}
1686 func<int>() func<float>()
1687 (@value{GDBP}) b func<
1690 This is true even in the case of typing the name of C@t{++} overloaded
1691 functions (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished by
1692 argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1693 don't need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1694 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1695 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}.
1698 (@value{GDBP}) b bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1699 bubble(int) bubble(double)
1700 (@value{GDBP}) b bubble(dou @kbd{M-?}
1704 See @ref{quoting names} for a description of other scenarios that
1707 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1708 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1709 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1710 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1712 @cindex completion of structure field names
1713 @cindex structure field name completion
1714 @cindex completion of union field names
1715 @cindex union field name completion
1716 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1717 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1718 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1719 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1720 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1724 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1725 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1726 to_data to_isatty to_write
1727 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1732 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1733 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1740 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1741 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1742 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1743 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1744 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1745 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1746 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1747 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1748 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1755 @section Getting Help
1756 @cindex online documentation
1759 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1760 using the command @code{help}.
1763 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1766 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1767 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1771 List of classes of commands:
1773 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1774 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1775 data -- Examining data
1776 files -- Specifying and examining files
1777 internals -- Maintenance commands
1778 obscure -- Obscure features
1779 running -- Running the program
1780 stack -- Examining the stack
1781 status -- Status inquiries
1782 support -- Support facilities
1783 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1784 stopping the program
1785 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1787 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1788 commands in that class.
1789 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1791 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1794 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1796 @item help @var{class}
1797 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1798 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1799 help display for the class @code{status}:
1802 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1807 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1808 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1809 info -- Generic command for showing things
1810 about the program being debugged
1811 show -- Generic command for showing things
1814 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1816 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1820 @item help @var{command}
1821 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1822 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1825 @item apropos @var{args}
1826 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1827 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1828 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1839 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1840 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1841 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1842 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1843 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1848 @item complete @var{args}
1849 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1850 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1851 command you want completed. For example:
1857 @noindent results in:
1868 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1871 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1872 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1873 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1874 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1875 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1876 Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1882 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1884 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1885 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1886 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1887 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1888 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1889 @w{@code{help info}}.
1893 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1894 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1895 @code{set prompt $}.
1899 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1900 @value{GDBN} itself.
1901 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1902 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1903 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1904 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1907 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1908 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1909 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1910 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1911 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1912 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1916 Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1917 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1920 @kindex show version
1921 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1923 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1924 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1925 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1926 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1927 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1928 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1929 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1930 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1933 @kindex show copying
1934 @kindex info copying
1935 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1938 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1940 @kindex show warranty
1941 @kindex info warranty
1943 @itemx info warranty
1944 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1945 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1947 @kindex show configuration
1948 @item show configuration
1949 Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1950 when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1951 @file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1952 automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1953 bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1959 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1961 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1962 debugging information when you compile it.
1964 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1965 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1966 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1967 kill a child process.
1970 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1971 * Starting:: Starting your program
1972 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1973 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1975 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1976 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1977 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1978 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1980 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1981 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1982 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1983 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1987 @section Compiling for Debugging
1989 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1990 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1991 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1992 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1993 and addresses in the executable code.
1995 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1998 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1999 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
2000 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
2001 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
2002 executables containing debugging information.
2004 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
2005 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
2006 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
2007 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
2008 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
2010 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
2011 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
2012 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
2014 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
2015 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
2016 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
2017 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
2018 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
2019 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
2021 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
2022 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
2023 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
2025 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
2026 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
2027 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
2028 format in @value{GDBN}.
2032 @section Starting your Program
2038 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
2041 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
2042 You must first specify the program name with an argument to
2043 @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
2044 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file}
2045 command (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
2049 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
2050 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
2051 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
2052 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
2053 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
2054 message like this one:
2057 The "remote" target does not support "run".
2058 Try "help target" or "continue".
2062 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
2063 first (@pxref{load}).
2065 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2066 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2067 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2068 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2069 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2070 divided into four categories:
2073 @item The @emph{arguments.}
2074 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2075 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2076 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2077 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2079 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2080 @code{SHELL} environment variable. If you do not define @code{SHELL},
2081 @value{GDBN} uses the default shell (@file{/bin/sh}). You can disable
2082 use of any shell with the @code{set startup-with-shell} command (see
2085 @item The @emph{environment.}
2086 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2087 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2088 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2089 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2091 @item The @emph{working directory.}
2092 You can set your program's working directory with the command
2093 @kbd{set cwd}. If you do not set any working directory with this
2094 command, your program will inherit @value{GDBN}'s working directory if
2095 native debugging, or the remote server's working directory if remote
2096 debugging. @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working
2099 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2100 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2101 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2102 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2103 set a different device for your program.
2104 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2107 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2108 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2109 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2113 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2114 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2115 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2116 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2117 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2119 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2120 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2121 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2122 your current breakpoints.
2127 @cindex run to main procedure
2128 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2129 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2130 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2131 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2132 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2133 procedure, depending on the language used.
2135 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2136 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2137 the @samp{run} command.
2139 @cindex elaboration phase
2140 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2141 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2142 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2143 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2144 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2145 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2146 will remain to halt execution.
2148 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2149 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2150 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2151 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2152 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2154 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2155 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution
2156 of your program too late, as the program would have already completed
2157 the elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, either insert
2158 breakpoints in your elaboration code before running your program or
2159 use the @code{starti} command.
2163 @cindex run to first instruction
2164 The @samp{starti} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2165 breakpoint at the first instruction of a program's execution and then
2166 invoking the @samp{run} command. For programs containing an
2167 elaboration phase, the @code{starti} command will stop execution at
2168 the start of the elaboration phase.
2170 @anchor{set exec-wrapper}
2171 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2172 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2173 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2174 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2175 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2176 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2177 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2178 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2179 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2180 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2181 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2183 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2184 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2185 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2186 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2188 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2189 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2193 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2197 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2198 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2200 @kindex set startup-with-shell
2201 @anchor{set startup-with-shell}
2202 @item set startup-with-shell
2203 @itemx set startup-with-shell on
2204 @itemx set startup-with-shell off
2205 @itemx show startup-with-shell
2206 On Unix systems, by default, if a shell is available on your target,
2207 @value{GDBN}) uses it to start your program. Arguments of the
2208 @code{run} command are passed to the shell, which does variable
2209 substitution, expands wildcard characters and performs redirection of
2210 I/O. In some circumstances, it may be useful to disable such use of a
2211 shell, for example, when debugging the shell itself or diagnosing
2212 startup failures such as:
2216 Starting program: ./a.out
2217 During startup program terminated with signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
2221 which indicates the shell or the wrapper specified with
2222 @samp{exec-wrapper} crashed, not your program. Most often, this is
2223 caused by something odd in your shell's non-interactive mode
2224 initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell,
2225 $@file{.zshenv} for the Z shell, or the file specified in the
2226 @samp{BASH_ENV} environment variable for BASH.
2228 @anchor{set auto-connect-native-target}
2229 @kindex set auto-connect-native-target
2230 @item set auto-connect-native-target
2231 @itemx set auto-connect-native-target on
2232 @itemx set auto-connect-native-target off
2233 @itemx show auto-connect-native-target
2235 By default, if not connected to any target yet (e.g., with
2236 @code{target remote}), the @code{run} command starts your program as a
2237 native process under @value{GDBN}, on your local machine. If you're
2238 sure you don't want to debug programs on your local machine, you can
2239 tell @value{GDBN} to not connect to the native target automatically
2240 with the @code{set auto-connect-native-target off} command.
2242 If @code{on}, which is the default, and if @value{GDBN} is not
2243 connected to a target already, the @code{run} command automaticaly
2244 connects to the native target, if one is available.
2246 If @code{off}, and if @value{GDBN} is not connected to a target
2247 already, the @code{run} command fails with an error:
2251 Don't know how to run. Try "help target".
2254 If @value{GDBN} is already connected to a target, @value{GDBN} always
2255 uses it with the @code{run} command.
2257 In any case, you can explicitly connect to the native target with the
2258 @code{target native} command. For example,
2261 (@value{GDBP}) set auto-connect-native-target off
2263 Don't know how to run. Try "help target".
2264 (@value{GDBP}) target native
2266 Starting program: ./a.out
2267 [Inferior 1 (process 10421) exited normally]
2270 In case you connected explicitly to the @code{native} target,
2271 @value{GDBN} remains connected even if all inferiors exit, ready for
2272 the next @code{run} command. Use the @code{disconnect} command to
2275 Examples of other commands that likewise respect the
2276 @code{auto-connect-native-target} setting: @code{attach}, @code{info
2277 proc}, @code{info os}.
2279 @kindex set disable-randomization
2280 @item set disable-randomization
2281 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2282 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2283 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2284 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2285 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2287 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2288 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2291 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2294 @item set disable-randomization off
2295 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2296 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2297 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2298 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2299 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2300 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2302 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2303 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2304 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2305 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2306 a code at its expected addresses.
2308 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2309 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2310 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2311 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2312 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2313 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2314 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2315 a randomly chosen address.
2317 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2318 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2319 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2320 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2321 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2323 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2324 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2326 @item show disable-randomization
2327 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2328 the virtual address space of the started program.
2333 @section Your Program's Arguments
2335 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2336 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2338 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2339 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2340 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2341 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2342 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2344 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2345 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2346 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2347 the program, not by the shell.
2349 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2350 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2355 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2356 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2357 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2358 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2359 it again without arguments.
2363 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2367 @section Your Program's Environment
2369 @cindex environment (of your program)
2370 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2371 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2372 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2373 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2374 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2375 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2376 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2380 @item path @var{directory}
2381 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2382 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2383 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2384 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2385 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2386 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2387 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2389 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2390 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2391 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2392 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2393 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2394 @var{directory} to the search path.
2395 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2396 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2400 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2401 environment variable).
2403 @kindex show environment
2404 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2405 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2406 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2407 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2408 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2410 @kindex set environment
2411 @anchor{set environment}
2412 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2413 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2414 changes for your program (and the shell @value{GDBN} uses to launch
2415 it), not for @value{GDBN} itself. The @var{value} may be any string; the
2416 values of environment variables are just strings, and any
2417 interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2418 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2420 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2421 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2423 For example, this command:
2430 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2431 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2432 are not actually required.)
2434 Note that on Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program via a shell,
2435 which also inherits the environment set with @code{set environment}.
2436 If necessary, you can avoid that by using the @samp{env} program as a
2437 wrapper instead of using @code{set environment}. @xref{set
2438 exec-wrapper}, for an example doing just that.
2440 Environment variables that are set by the user are also transmitted to
2441 @command{gdbserver} to be used when starting the remote inferior.
2442 @pxref{QEnvironmentHexEncoded}.
2444 @kindex unset environment
2445 @anchor{unset environment}
2446 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2447 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2448 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2449 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2450 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2452 Environment variables that are unset by the user are also unset on
2453 @command{gdbserver} when starting the remote inferior.
2454 @pxref{QEnvironmentUnset}.
2457 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2458 the shell indicated by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it
2459 exists (or @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable
2460 names a shell that runs an initialization file when started
2461 non-interactively---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, $@file{.zshenv}
2462 for the Z shell, or the file specified in the @samp{BASH_ENV}
2463 environment variable for BASH---any variables you set in that file
2464 affect your program. You may wish to move setting of environment
2465 variables to files that are only run when you sign on, such as
2466 @file{.login} or @file{.profile}.
2468 @node Working Directory
2469 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2471 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2472 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, the inferior will be
2473 initialized with the current working directory specified by the
2474 @kbd{set cwd} command. If no directory has been specified by this
2475 command, then the inferior will inherit @value{GDBN}'s current working
2476 directory as its working directory if native debugging, or it will
2477 inherit the remote server's current working directory if remote
2482 @cindex change inferior's working directory
2483 @anchor{set cwd command}
2484 @item set cwd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2485 Set the inferior's working directory to @var{directory}, which will be
2486 @code{glob}-expanded in order to resolve tildes (@file{~}). If no
2487 argument has been specified, the command clears the setting and resets
2488 it to an empty state. This setting has no effect on @value{GDBN}'s
2489 working directory, and it only takes effect the next time you start
2490 the inferior. The @file{~} in @var{directory} is a short for the
2491 @dfn{home directory}, usually pointed to by the @env{HOME} environment
2492 variable. On MS-Windows, if @env{HOME} is not defined, @value{GDBN}
2493 uses the concatenation of @env{HOMEDRIVE} and @env{HOMEPATH} as
2496 You can also change @value{GDBN}'s current working directory by using
2497 the @code{cd} command.
2501 @cindex show inferior's working directory
2503 Show the inferior's working directory. If no directory has been
2504 specified by @kbd{set cwd}, then the default inferior's working
2505 directory is the same as @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
2508 @cindex change @value{GDBN}'s working directory
2510 @item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2511 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2512 given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2514 The @value{GDBN} working directory serves as a default for the
2515 commands that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on.
2516 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
2517 @xref{set cwd command}.
2521 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2524 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2525 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2526 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} supports
2527 the @code{info proc} command (@pxref{Process Information}), you can
2528 use the @code{info proc} command to find out the
2529 current working directory of the debuggee.
2532 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2537 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2538 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2539 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2540 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2541 running your program.
2544 @kindex info terminal
2546 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2550 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2551 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2558 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2561 @cindex controlling terminal
2562 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2563 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2564 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2565 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2566 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2573 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2574 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2575 that as their controlling terminal.
2577 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2578 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2581 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2582 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2583 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2584 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2586 @cindex inferior tty
2587 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2588 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2589 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2593 @item set inferior-tty [ @var{tty} ]
2594 @kindex set inferior-tty
2595 Set the tty for the program being debugged to @var{tty}. Omitting @var{tty}
2596 restores the default behavior, which is to use the same terminal as
2599 @item show inferior-tty
2600 @kindex show inferior-tty
2601 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2605 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2610 @item attach @var{process-id}
2611 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2612 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2613 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2614 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2615 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2617 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2618 executing the command.
2621 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2622 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2623 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2624 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2626 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2627 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2628 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2629 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2630 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2633 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2634 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2635 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2636 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2637 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2638 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2639 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2644 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2645 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2646 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2647 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2648 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2649 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2650 executing the command.
2653 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2654 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2655 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2656 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2657 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2661 @section Killing the Child Process
2666 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2669 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2670 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2673 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2674 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2675 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2676 outside the debugger.
2678 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2679 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2680 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2681 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2682 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2683 breakpoint settings).
2685 @node Inferiors and Programs
2686 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2688 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2689 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2690 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2691 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2692 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2693 from multiple executables.
2696 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2697 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2698 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2699 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2700 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2701 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2702 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2703 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2704 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2705 threads running in it.
2707 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2711 @kindex info inferiors
2712 @item info inferiors
2713 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2715 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2719 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2722 the target system's inferior identifier
2725 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2730 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2731 indicates the current inferior.
2735 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2738 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2739 Num Description Executable
2740 2 process 2307 hello
2741 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2744 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2747 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2748 @item inferior @var{infno}
2749 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2750 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2751 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2754 @vindex $_inferior@r{, convenience variable}
2755 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_inferior} contains the
2756 number of the current inferior. You may find this useful in writing
2757 breakpoint conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth.
2758 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2759 information on convenience variables.
2761 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2762 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2763 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2764 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2765 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2766 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2769 @kindex add-inferior
2770 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2771 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2772 executable; @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2773 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2774 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2775 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2777 @kindex clone-inferior
2778 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2779 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2780 @var{infno}; @var{n} defaults to 1, and @var{infno} defaults to the
2781 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2782 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2785 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2786 Num Description Executable
2787 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2788 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2791 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2792 Num Description Executable
2794 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2797 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2799 @kindex remove-inferiors
2800 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2801 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2802 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2803 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2807 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2808 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2809 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2810 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2813 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2814 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2815 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2816 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2817 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2818 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2820 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2821 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2822 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2823 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2824 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2825 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2828 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2829 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2830 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2831 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2834 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2835 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2838 @kindex set print inferior-events
2839 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2840 @item set print inferior-events
2841 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2842 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2843 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2844 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2845 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2846 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2848 @kindex show print inferior-events
2849 @item show print inferior-events
2850 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2851 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2854 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2855 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2856 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2859 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2860 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2861 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2862 info program-spaces}} command.
2865 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2866 @item maint info program-spaces
2867 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2870 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2874 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2877 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2878 the @code{file} command.
2883 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2884 indicates the current program space.
2886 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2887 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2888 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2891 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2895 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2898 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2899 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2900 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2901 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2902 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2905 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2908 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2911 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2912 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2916 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2918 @cindex threads of execution
2919 @cindex multiple threads
2920 @cindex switching threads
2921 In some operating systems, such as GNU/Linux and Solaris, a single program
2922 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2923 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2924 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2925 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2926 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2927 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2929 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2933 @item automatic notification of new threads
2934 @item @samp{thread @var{thread-id}}, a command to switch among threads
2935 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2936 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{thread-id-list}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2937 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2938 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2939 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2940 messages on thread start and exit.
2941 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2942 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2943 isn't compatible with the program.
2946 @cindex focus of debugging
2947 @cindex current thread
2948 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2949 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2950 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2951 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2952 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2954 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2955 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2956 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2957 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2958 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2959 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2960 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2961 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}, where @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2962 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2963 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2966 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2970 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on other systems,
2971 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2974 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2975 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2976 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2978 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2979 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2980 @c threads ab initio?
2982 @anchor{thread numbers}
2983 @cindex thread number, per inferior
2984 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2985 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread number
2986 ---always a single integer---with each thread of an inferior. This
2987 number is unique between all threads of an inferior, but not unique
2988 between threads of different inferiors.
2990 @cindex qualified thread ID
2991 You can refer to a given thread in an inferior using the qualified
2992 @var{inferior-num}.@var{thread-num} syntax, also known as
2993 @dfn{qualified thread ID}, with @var{inferior-num} being the inferior
2994 number and @var{thread-num} being the thread number of the given
2995 inferior. For example, thread @code{2.3} refers to thread number 3 of
2996 inferior 2. If you omit @var{inferior-num} (e.g., @code{thread 3}),
2997 then @value{GDBN} infers you're referring to a thread of the current
3000 Until you create a second inferior, @value{GDBN} does not show the
3001 @var{inferior-num} part of thread IDs, even though you can always use
3002 the full @var{inferior-num}.@var{thread-num} form to refer to threads
3003 of inferior 1, the initial inferior.
3005 @anchor{thread ID lists}
3006 @cindex thread ID lists
3007 Some commands accept a space-separated @dfn{thread ID list} as
3008 argument. A list element can be:
3012 A thread ID as shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads}
3013 display, with or without an inferior qualifier. E.g., @samp{2.1} or
3017 A range of thread numbers, again with or without an inferior
3018 qualifier, as in @var{inf}.@var{thr1}-@var{thr2} or
3019 @var{thr1}-@var{thr2}. E.g., @samp{1.2-4} or @samp{2-4}.
3022 All threads of an inferior, specified with a star wildcard, with or
3023 without an inferior qualifier, as in @var{inf}.@code{*} (e.g.,
3024 @samp{1.*}) or @code{*}. The former refers to all threads of the
3025 given inferior, and the latter form without an inferior qualifier
3026 refers to all threads of the current inferior.
3030 For example, if the current inferior is 1, and inferior 7 has one
3031 thread with ID 7.1, the thread list @samp{1 2-3 4.5 6.7-9 7.*}
3032 includes threads 1 to 3 of inferior 1, thread 5 of inferior 4, threads
3033 7 to 9 of inferior 6 and all threads of inferior 7. That is, in
3034 expanded qualified form, the same as @samp{1.1 1.2 1.3 4.5 6.7 6.8 6.9
3038 @anchor{global thread numbers}
3039 @cindex global thread number
3040 @cindex global thread identifier (GDB)
3041 In addition to a @emph{per-inferior} number, each thread is also
3042 assigned a unique @emph{global} number, also known as @dfn{global
3043 thread ID}, a single integer. Unlike the thread number component of
3044 the thread ID, no two threads have the same global ID, even when
3045 you're debugging multiple inferiors.
3047 From @value{GDBN}'s perspective, a process always has at least one
3048 thread. In other words, @value{GDBN} assigns a thread number to the
3049 program's ``main thread'' even if the program is not multi-threaded.
3051 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
3052 @vindex $_gthread@r{, convenience variable}
3053 The debugger convenience variables @samp{$_thread} and
3054 @samp{$_gthread} contain, respectively, the per-inferior thread number
3055 and the global thread number of the current thread. You may find this
3056 useful in writing breakpoint conditional expressions, command scripts,
3057 and so forth. @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for
3058 general information on convenience variables.
3060 If @value{GDBN} detects the program is multi-threaded, it augments the
3061 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint with the ID and name of
3062 the thread that hit the breakpoint.
3065 Thread 2 "client" hit Breakpoint 1, send_message () at client.c:68
3068 Likewise when the program receives a signal:
3071 Thread 1 "main" received signal SIGINT, Interrupt.
3075 @kindex info threads
3076 @item info threads @r{[}@var{thread-id-list}@r{]}
3078 Display information about one or more threads. With no arguments
3079 displays information about all threads. You can specify the list of
3080 threads that you want to display using the thread ID list syntax
3081 (@pxref{thread ID lists}).
3083 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
3087 the per-inferior thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
3090 the global thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}, if the @samp{-gid}
3091 option was specified
3094 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
3097 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
3098 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
3102 the current stack frame summary for that thread
3106 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
3107 indicates the current thread.
3111 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
3114 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
3116 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
3117 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3118 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3122 If you're debugging multiple inferiors, @value{GDBN} displays thread
3123 IDs using the qualified @var{inferior-num}.@var{thread-num} format.
3124 Otherwise, only @var{thread-num} is shown.
3126 If you specify the @samp{-gid} option, @value{GDBN} displays a column
3127 indicating each thread's global thread ID:
3130 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
3131 Id GId Target Id Frame
3132 1.1 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
3133 1.2 3 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3134 1.3 4 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3135 * 2.1 2 process 65 thread 1 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
3138 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
3139 Solaris-specific command:
3142 @item maint info sol-threads
3143 @kindex maint info sol-threads
3144 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
3145 Display info on Solaris user threads.
3149 @kindex thread @var{thread-id}
3150 @item thread @var{thread-id}
3151 Make thread ID @var{thread-id} the current thread. The command
3152 argument @var{thread-id} is the @value{GDBN} thread ID, as shown in
3153 the first field of the @samp{info threads} display, with or without an
3154 inferior qualifier (e.g., @samp{2.1} or @samp{1}).
3156 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the
3157 thread you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
3160 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
3161 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
3162 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
3163 8 printf ("hello\n");
3167 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
3168 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
3171 @kindex thread apply
3172 @cindex apply command to several threads
3173 @item thread apply [@var{thread-id-list} | all [-ascending]] @var{command}
3174 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
3175 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the threads that you
3176 want affected using the thread ID list syntax (@pxref{thread ID
3177 lists}), or specify @code{all} to apply to all threads. To apply a
3178 command to all threads in descending order, type @kbd{thread apply all
3179 @var{command}}. To apply a command to all threads in ascending order,
3180 type @kbd{thread apply all -ascending @var{command}}.
3184 @cindex name a thread
3185 @item thread name [@var{name}]
3186 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
3187 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
3188 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
3190 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
3191 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
3192 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
3193 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
3194 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
3197 @cindex search for a thread
3198 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
3199 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
3200 matches the supplied regular expression.
3202 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
3203 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
3204 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
3208 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
3209 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
3210 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
3212 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
3215 @kindex set print thread-events
3216 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
3217 @item set print thread-events
3218 @itemx set print thread-events on
3219 @itemx set print thread-events off
3220 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
3221 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
3222 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
3223 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
3224 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
3226 @kindex show print thread-events
3227 @item show print thread-events
3228 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
3229 have started and exited.
3232 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
3233 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
3234 programs with multiple threads.
3236 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
3237 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
3239 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
3241 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
3242 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
3243 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
3244 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
3245 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
3246 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
3247 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
3248 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
3251 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
3252 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
3253 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3254 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
3255 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
3256 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
3258 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3259 refers to the default system directories that are
3260 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
3261 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
3262 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
3264 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3265 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
3266 was loaded in the inferior process.
3268 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
3269 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
3270 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
3271 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
3272 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
3273 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
3274 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
3276 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
3277 only on some platforms.
3279 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
3280 @item show libthread-db-search-path
3281 Display current libthread_db search path.
3283 @kindex set debug libthread-db
3284 @kindex show debug libthread-db
3285 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
3286 @item set debug libthread-db
3287 @itemx show debug libthread-db
3288 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
3289 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
3293 @section Debugging Forks
3295 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
3296 @cindex multiple processes
3297 @cindex processes, multiple
3298 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
3299 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
3300 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
3301 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
3302 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
3303 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
3304 will cause it to terminate.
3306 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3307 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3308 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3309 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3310 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3311 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3312 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3313 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3314 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3315 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3317 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs
3318 that create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork}
3319 functions. On @sc{gnu}/Linux platforms, this feature is supported
3320 with kernel version 2.5.46 and later.
3322 The fork debugging commands are supported in native mode and when
3323 connected to @code{gdbserver} in either @code{target remote} mode or
3324 @code{target extended-remote} mode.
3326 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3327 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3329 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3330 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3333 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
3334 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3335 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3336 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3337 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3341 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3342 unimpeded. This is the default.
3345 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3350 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3351 @item show follow-fork-mode
3352 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3355 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3356 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3357 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3360 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3361 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3362 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3363 retain debugger control over them both.
3367 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3368 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3369 independently. This is the default.
3372 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3373 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3374 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3379 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3380 @item show detach-on-fork
3381 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3384 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3385 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3386 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3387 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3388 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3389 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3391 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3392 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3393 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3394 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3397 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3398 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3399 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3400 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3401 the child process's @code{main}.
3403 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3404 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3406 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3407 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3408 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3409 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3410 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3411 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3415 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3416 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3418 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3419 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3421 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3425 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3426 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3427 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3433 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3435 Id Description Executable
3438 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3439 Program exited normally.
3440 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3441 Id Description Executable
3447 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3448 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3449 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3450 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3451 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3456 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3457 Id Description Executable
3460 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3461 Program exited normally.
3462 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3463 Id Description Executable
3470 @code{follow-exec-mode} is supported in native mode and
3471 @code{target extended-remote} mode.
3473 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3474 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3475 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3477 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3478 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3483 @cindex snapshot of a process
3484 @cindex rewind program state
3486 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3487 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3488 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3491 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3492 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3493 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3494 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3495 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3497 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3498 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3499 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3500 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3501 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3502 start again from there.
3504 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3505 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3507 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3512 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3513 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3514 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3516 @kindex info checkpoints
3517 @item info checkpoints
3518 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3519 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3526 @item Source line, or label
3529 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3530 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3531 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3532 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3533 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3534 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3535 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3537 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3538 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3539 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3542 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3543 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3544 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3548 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3549 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3550 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3551 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3552 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3553 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3554 previously read data can be read again.
3556 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3557 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3558 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3559 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3560 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3561 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3563 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3564 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3565 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3566 different execution path this time.
3568 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3569 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3570 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3571 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3572 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3573 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3574 potentially pose a problem.
3576 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3578 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3579 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3580 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3581 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3582 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3585 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3586 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3587 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3588 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3589 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3592 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3594 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3595 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3596 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3598 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3599 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3600 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3601 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3602 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3603 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3604 explicitly request this information at any time.
3607 @kindex info program
3609 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3610 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3614 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3615 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3616 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3617 Skipping over functions and files
3619 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3623 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3626 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3627 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3628 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3629 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3630 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3631 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3634 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3635 the executable is run.
3638 @cindex data breakpoints
3639 @cindex memory tracing
3640 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3641 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3642 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3643 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3644 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3645 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3646 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3647 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3648 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3649 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3652 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3653 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3657 @cindex breakpoint on events
3658 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3659 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3660 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3661 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3662 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3663 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3664 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3666 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3667 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3668 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3669 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3670 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3671 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3672 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3673 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3676 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3677 @cindex breakpoint lists
3678 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3679 @cindex lists of breakpoints
3680 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a space-separated list of breakpoints
3681 on which to operate. A list element can be either a single breakpoint number,
3682 like @samp{5}, or a range of such numbers, like @samp{5-7}.
3683 When a breakpoint list is given to a command, all breakpoints in that list
3687 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3688 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3689 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3690 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3691 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3692 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3693 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3694 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3695 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3696 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3697 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3698 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3702 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3704 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3705 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3707 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3710 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3711 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3712 @cindex latest breakpoint
3713 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3714 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3715 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3716 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3717 convenience variables.
3720 @item break @var{location}
3721 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3722 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3723 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3724 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3725 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3727 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3728 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3729 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3732 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3733 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3734 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3737 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3738 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3739 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3740 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3741 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3742 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3743 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3744 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3745 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3748 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3749 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3750 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3751 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3752 existed when your program stopped.
3754 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3755 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3756 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3757 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3758 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3759 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3760 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3763 @item tbreak @var{args}
3764 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. The @var{args} are the
3765 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3766 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3767 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3770 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3771 @item hbreak @var{args}
3772 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. The @var{args} are the same as for the
3773 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3774 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3775 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3776 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3777 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3778 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3779 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3780 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3781 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3782 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3783 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3784 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3785 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3786 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3787 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3788 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3789 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3792 @item thbreak @var{args}
3793 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. The @var{args}
3794 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3795 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3796 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3797 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3798 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3799 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3800 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3803 @cindex regular expression
3804 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3805 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3806 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3807 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3808 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3809 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3810 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3811 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3812 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3814 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3815 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3816 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3817 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3818 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3819 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3821 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3822 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3823 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3826 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3827 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3828 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3831 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3834 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3835 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3836 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3837 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3838 every function in a given file:
3841 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3844 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3845 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3847 @kindex info breakpoints
3848 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3849 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{list}@dots{}@r{]}
3850 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{list}@dots{}@r{]}
3851 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3852 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3853 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3854 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3857 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3859 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3861 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3862 @item Enabled or Disabled
3863 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3864 that are not enabled.
3866 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3867 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3868 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3869 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3870 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3871 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3873 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3874 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3875 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3876 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3880 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3881 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3882 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3883 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3884 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3885 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3887 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3888 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3889 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3890 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3893 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3894 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3895 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3896 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3897 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3900 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3901 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3902 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3903 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3904 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3905 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3908 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3909 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3913 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3914 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3915 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3916 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3918 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3919 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3920 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3921 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3925 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3928 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3929 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3932 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3933 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3936 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3937 several places where that function is inlined.
3940 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3941 the relevant locations.
3943 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3944 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3945 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3946 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3947 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3948 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3949 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3954 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3955 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3957 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3958 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3959 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3962 You cannot delete the individual locations from a breakpoint. However,
3963 each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3964 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3965 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. It's also possible to
3966 @code{enable} and @code{disable} a range of @var{location-number}
3967 locations using a @var{breakpoint-number} and two @var{location-number}s,
3968 in increasing order, separated by a hyphen, like
3969 @kbd{@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number1}-@var{location-number2}},
3970 in which case @value{GDBN} acts on all the locations in the range (inclusive).
3971 Disabling or enabling the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects
3972 all of the locations that belong to that breakpoint.
3974 @cindex pending breakpoints
3975 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3976 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3977 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3978 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3979 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3980 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3981 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3982 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3983 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3984 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3985 is not yet resolved.
3987 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3988 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3989 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3990 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3991 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3992 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3994 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3995 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3996 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3997 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3999 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
4000 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
4001 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
4003 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
4004 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
4005 address specification to an address:
4007 @kindex set breakpoint pending
4008 @kindex show breakpoint pending
4010 @item set breakpoint pending auto
4011 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
4012 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
4014 @item set breakpoint pending on
4015 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
4016 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
4018 @item set breakpoint pending off
4019 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
4020 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
4021 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
4023 @item show breakpoint pending
4024 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
4027 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
4028 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
4029 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
4031 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
4032 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
4033 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
4034 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
4035 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
4036 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
4037 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
4040 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands:
4042 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
4043 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
4045 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
4046 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
4047 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
4048 breakpoint must be used.
4050 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
4051 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
4052 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
4053 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
4056 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
4057 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
4058 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
4059 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
4060 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
4061 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
4062 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
4063 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
4064 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
4066 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
4067 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
4069 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
4070 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
4071 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
4072 removed from the target when it stops. This is the default mode.
4074 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
4075 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
4076 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
4077 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
4078 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is deleted.
4081 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
4082 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
4083 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
4085 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
4086 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
4088 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
4090 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
4091 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
4093 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
4094 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
4095 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
4096 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
4097 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
4099 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
4100 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
4101 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
4102 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
4103 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
4104 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
4105 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
4106 that is only known to the host. Examples include
4107 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
4108 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
4109 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
4110 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
4111 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
4113 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
4114 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
4115 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
4116 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
4117 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
4118 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
4122 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
4123 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
4124 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
4125 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
4126 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
4127 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
4128 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
4129 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
4132 @node Set Watchpoints
4133 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
4135 @cindex setting watchpoints
4136 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
4137 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
4138 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
4139 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
4140 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
4144 A reference to the value of a single variable.
4147 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
4148 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
4149 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
4152 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
4153 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
4154 language (@pxref{Languages}).
4157 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
4158 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
4159 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
4160 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
4161 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
4162 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
4163 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
4164 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
4165 the expression changes.
4167 @cindex software watchpoints
4168 @cindex hardware watchpoints
4169 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
4170 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
4171 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
4172 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
4173 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
4176 On some systems, such as most PowerPC or x86-based targets,
4177 @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware watchpoints, which do not
4178 slow down the running of your program.
4182 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4183 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
4184 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
4185 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
4186 to watch the value of a single variable:
4189 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
4192 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]}}
4193 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
4194 @var{thread-id} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
4195 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
4196 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
4197 with Hardware Watchpoints.
4199 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
4200 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
4201 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
4202 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
4203 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
4204 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
4205 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
4208 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
4209 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
4210 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
4211 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
4212 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
4213 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
4214 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
4215 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
4216 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
4217 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
4221 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
4222 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
4226 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4227 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
4231 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4232 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
4233 or written into by the program.
4235 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{list}@dots{}@r{]}
4236 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{list}@dots{}@r{]}
4237 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
4238 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
4241 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
4242 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
4243 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
4244 a never-changing value:
4247 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
4248 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
4249 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
4250 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
4253 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
4254 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
4255 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
4256 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
4257 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
4258 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
4260 @cindex use only software watchpoints
4261 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
4262 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
4263 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
4264 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
4265 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
4266 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
4267 mechanism of watching expression values.)
4270 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
4271 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
4272 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
4274 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4275 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4276 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
4279 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
4280 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
4281 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
4283 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
4286 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
4290 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
4292 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
4293 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
4294 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
4295 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
4296 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
4297 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
4298 will print a message like this:
4301 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
4304 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4305 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4306 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4307 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4308 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4309 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4310 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4311 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4313 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4314 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4315 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4316 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4317 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4318 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4321 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4325 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4327 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4328 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4329 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4330 expression with separately allocated resources.
4332 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4333 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4334 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4336 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4337 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4338 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4339 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4340 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4341 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4342 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4343 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4344 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4346 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4347 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4348 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4349 watched expression from every thread.
4352 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4353 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4354 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4355 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4356 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4357 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4358 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4359 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4360 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4363 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4365 @node Set Catchpoints
4366 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4367 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4368 @cindex exception handlers
4369 @cindex event handling
4371 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4372 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4373 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4377 @item catch @var{event}
4378 Stop when @var{event} occurs. The @var{event} can be any of the following:
4381 @item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4382 @itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4383 @itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4385 @kindex catch rethrow
4387 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4388 The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4390 If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4391 regular expression will be caught.
4393 @vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4394 The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4395 exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4396 exception being thrown.
4398 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4403 The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4404 systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4408 The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4409 variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4410 If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4411 These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4412 or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4416 The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4417 instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4420 When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4421 location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4422 support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4423 (@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4426 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4427 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4428 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4429 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4430 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4431 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4432 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4433 disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4434 controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4437 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4440 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4444 @kindex catch exception
4445 @cindex Ada exception catching
4446 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4447 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4448 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4449 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4450 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4452 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4453 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4454 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4455 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4456 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4457 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4458 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4459 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4462 @kindex catch handlers
4463 @cindex Ada exception handlers catching
4464 @cindex catch Ada exceptions when handled
4465 An Ada exception being handled. If an exception name is
4466 specified at the end of the command
4467 (eg @kbd{catch handlers Program_Error}), the debugger will stop
4468 only when this specific exception is handled.
4469 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is handled.
4471 When inserting a handlers catchpoint on a user-defined
4472 exception whose name is identical to one of the exceptions
4473 defined by the language, the fully qualified name must be used
4474 as the exception name. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will assume that it
4475 should stop on the pre-defined exception rather than the
4476 user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception called
4477 @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then the
4478 command to use to catch such exceptions handling is
4479 @kbd{catch handlers Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4481 @item exception unhandled
4482 @kindex catch exception unhandled
4483 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4486 @kindex catch assert
4487 A failed Ada assertion.
4491 @cindex break on fork/exec
4492 A call to @code{exec}.
4495 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number} @r{|} @r{group:}@var{groupname} @r{|} @r{g:}@var{groupname}@r{]} @dots{}
4496 @kindex catch syscall
4497 @cindex break on a system call.
4498 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4499 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4500 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4501 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4502 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4503 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4506 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4507 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4508 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4509 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4511 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4512 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4513 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4514 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4516 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4517 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4518 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4521 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4522 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4523 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4524 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4525 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4526 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4527 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4528 behind the OS upgrades).
4530 You may specify a group of related syscalls to be caught at once using
4531 the @code{group:} syntax (@code{g:} is a shorter equivalent). For
4532 instance, on some platforms @value{GDBN} allows you to catch all
4533 network related syscalls, by passing the argument @code{group:network}
4534 to @code{catch syscall}. Note that not all syscall groups are
4535 available in every system. You can use the command completion
4536 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4537 syscall groups available on your environment.
4539 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4543 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4544 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4546 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4548 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4549 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4553 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4554 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4558 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4561 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4562 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4564 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4566 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4567 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4571 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4572 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4576 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4577 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4578 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4581 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4582 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4584 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4586 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4587 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4591 Program exited normally.
4595 Here is an example of catching a syscall group:
4598 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall group:process
4599 Catchpoint 1 (syscalls 'exit' [1] 'fork' [2] 'waitpid' [7]
4600 'execve' [11] 'wait4' [114] 'clone' [120] 'vfork' [190]
4601 'exit_group' [252] 'waitid' [284] 'unshare' [310])
4603 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4605 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall fork), 0x00007ffff7df4e27 in open64 ()
4606 from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
4612 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4613 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4614 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4615 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4618 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4619 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4620 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4624 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4625 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4626 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4627 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4628 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4629 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4632 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4633 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4634 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4635 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4636 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4640 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4642 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4643 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4646 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4647 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4650 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4654 A call to @code{fork}.
4658 A call to @code{vfork}.
4660 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4661 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4663 @kindex catch unload
4664 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4665 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4666 matches one of the affected libraries.
4668 @item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4669 @kindex catch signal
4670 The delivery of a signal.
4672 With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4673 used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4674 @samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4676 With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4677 @value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4680 Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4681 @code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4684 One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4685 @code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4688 When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4689 @code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4690 However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4691 on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4696 @item tcatch @var{event}
4698 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4699 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4703 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4707 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4709 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4710 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4711 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4712 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4713 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4714 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4716 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4717 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4718 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4719 their breakpoint numbers.
4721 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4722 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4723 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4728 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4729 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4730 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4731 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4733 @item clear @var{location}
4734 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4735 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4736 most useful ones are listed below:
4739 @item clear @var{function}
4740 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4741 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4743 @item clear @var{linenum}
4744 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4745 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4746 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4749 @cindex delete breakpoints
4751 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4752 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{list}@dots{}@r{]}
4753 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4754 list specified as argument. If no argument is specified, delete all
4755 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4756 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4760 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4762 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4763 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4764 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4765 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4766 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4768 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4769 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4770 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4771 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4772 do not know which numbers to use.
4774 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4775 affects all of its locations.
4777 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4778 different states of enablement:
4782 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4783 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4785 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4787 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4790 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4791 N times, then becomes disabled.
4793 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4794 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4795 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4798 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4799 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4803 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4804 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{list}@dots{}@r{]}
4805 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4806 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4807 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4808 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4809 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4812 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{list}@dots{}@r{]}
4813 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4814 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4816 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{list}@dots{}
4817 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4818 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4820 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{list}@dots{}
4821 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4822 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4823 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4824 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4825 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4826 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4828 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{list}@dots{}
4829 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4830 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4831 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4834 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4835 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4836 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4837 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4838 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4839 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4840 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4841 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4845 @subsection Break Conditions
4846 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4847 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4849 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4850 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4851 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4852 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4853 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4854 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4855 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4856 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4858 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4859 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4860 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4861 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4862 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4864 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4865 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4866 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4867 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4870 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4871 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4872 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4873 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4874 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4875 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4876 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4877 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4879 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4880 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4882 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4883 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4884 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4885 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4886 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4887 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4889 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4890 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4891 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4892 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4893 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4895 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4896 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4897 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4898 with the @code{condition} command.
4900 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4901 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4902 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4907 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4908 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4909 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4910 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4911 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4912 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4913 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4914 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4915 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4916 prints an error message:
4919 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4924 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4925 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4926 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4928 @item condition @var{bnum}
4929 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4930 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4933 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4934 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4935 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4936 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4937 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4938 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4939 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4940 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4941 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4942 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4943 your program reaches it.
4947 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4948 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4949 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4950 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4953 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4956 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4957 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4958 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4959 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4961 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4962 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4963 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4965 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4966 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4967 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4971 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4974 @node Break Commands
4975 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4977 @cindex breakpoint commands
4978 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4979 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4980 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4981 enable other breakpoints.
4985 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4986 @item commands @r{[}@var{list}@dots{}@r{]}
4987 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4989 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4990 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4991 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4993 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4994 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4996 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4997 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4998 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4999 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
5000 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
5001 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
5002 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
5006 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
5007 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
5009 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
5010 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
5011 that resumes execution.
5013 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
5014 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
5015 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
5016 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
5017 ambiguities about which list to execute.
5020 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
5021 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
5022 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
5023 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
5024 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
5025 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
5027 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
5028 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
5029 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
5031 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
5032 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
5038 printf "x is %d\n",x
5043 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
5044 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
5045 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
5046 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
5047 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
5048 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
5049 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
5060 @node Dynamic Printf
5061 @subsection Dynamic Printf
5063 @cindex dynamic printf
5065 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
5066 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
5067 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
5068 having to recompile it.
5070 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
5071 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
5072 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
5073 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
5074 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
5075 redirects to files and so forth.
5077 If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
5078 ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
5079 ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
5080 with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
5081 the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
5082 target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
5083 everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
5087 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
5088 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
5089 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
5090 To print several values, separate them with commas.
5092 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
5093 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
5094 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
5095 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
5096 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
5097 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
5101 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
5102 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
5105 @kindex dprintf-style call
5106 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
5110 @kindex dprintf-style agent
5111 Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
5112 the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
5113 support running commands on the target.
5116 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
5117 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
5118 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
5119 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
5122 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
5123 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
5124 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
5125 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
5126 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
5127 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
5129 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
5130 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
5131 you could do the following:
5134 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
5135 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
5136 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
5137 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
5138 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
5140 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
5141 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
5146 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
5147 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
5148 the variable settings.
5150 @item set disconnected-dprintf on
5151 @itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
5152 @kindex set disconnected-dprintf
5153 Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
5154 @value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
5155 if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
5157 @item show disconnected-dprintf off
5158 @kindex show disconnected-dprintf
5159 Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
5163 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
5164 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
5165 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
5166 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
5167 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
5168 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
5170 @node Save Breakpoints
5171 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
5173 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
5174 breakpoints}} command.
5177 @kindex save breakpoints
5178 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
5179 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
5180 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
5181 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
5182 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
5183 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
5184 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
5185 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
5186 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
5187 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
5188 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
5189 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
5190 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
5191 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
5192 that can no longer be recreated.
5195 @node Static Probe Points
5196 @subsection Static Probe Points
5198 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
5199 @cindex static probe point, DTrace
5200 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
5201 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
5202 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations.
5204 Currently, the following types of probes are supported on
5205 ELF-compatible systems:
5209 @item @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
5210 @acronym{SDT} probes@footnote{See
5211 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
5212 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT}
5213 probes in your applications.}. @code{SystemTap} probes are usable
5214 from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages@footnote{See
5215 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
5216 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.}.
5218 @item @code{DTrace} (@uref{http://oss.oracle.com/projects/DTrace})
5219 @acronym{USDT} probes. @code{DTrace} probes are usable from C and
5223 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
5224 Some @code{SystemTap} probes have an associated semaphore variable;
5225 for instance, this happens automatically if you defined your probe
5226 using a DTrace-style @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore,
5227 @value{GDBN} will automatically enable it when you specify a
5228 breakpoint using the @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a
5229 breakpoint at a probe's location by some other method (e.g.,
5230 @code{break file:line}), then @value{GDBN} will not automatically set
5231 the semaphore. @code{DTrace} probes do not support semaphores.
5233 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
5234 probes}, with optional arguments:
5238 @item info probes @r{[}@var{type}@r{]} @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
5239 If given, @var{type} is either @code{stap} for listing
5240 @code{SystemTap} probes or @code{dtrace} for listing @code{DTrace}
5241 probes. If omitted all probes are listed regardless of their types.
5243 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
5244 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
5245 probes from all providers are listed.
5247 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
5248 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
5249 considered when deciding whether to display them.
5251 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
5252 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
5253 given, all object files are considered.
5255 @item info probes all
5256 List the available static probes, from all types.
5259 @cindex enabling and disabling probes
5260 Some probe points can be enabled and/or disabled. The effect of
5261 enabling or disabling a probe depends on the type of probe being
5262 handled. Some @code{DTrace} probes can be enabled or
5263 disabled, but @code{SystemTap} probes cannot be disabled.
5265 You can enable (or disable) one or more probes using the following
5266 commands, with optional arguments:
5269 @kindex enable probes
5270 @item enable probes @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
5271 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against
5272 provider names when selecting which probes to enable. If omitted,
5273 all probes from all providers are enabled.
5275 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe
5276 names when selecting which probes to enable. If omitted, probe names
5277 are not considered when deciding whether to enable them.
5279 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
5280 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
5281 given, all object files are considered.
5283 @kindex disable probes
5284 @item disable probes @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
5285 See the @code{enable probes} command above for a description of the
5286 optional arguments accepted by this command.
5289 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
5290 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
5291 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
5292 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
5293 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
5294 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. In @code{SystemTap}
5295 probes each probe argument is an integer of the appropriate size;
5296 types are not preserved. In @code{DTrace} probes types are preserved
5297 provided that they are recognized as such by @value{GDBN}; otherwise
5298 the value of the probe argument will be a long integer. The
5299 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
5300 at the current probe point.
5302 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
5303 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
5307 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
5308 @node Error in Breakpoints
5309 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
5311 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
5312 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
5314 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
5315 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
5317 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
5318 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
5322 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
5323 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
5324 watchpoints it needs to insert.
5326 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
5327 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
5329 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
5330 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
5331 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
5333 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
5334 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
5335 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
5336 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
5338 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
5339 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
5340 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
5341 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
5342 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
5343 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
5344 first in the bundle.
5346 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
5347 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
5348 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
5349 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
5350 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
5351 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
5354 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
5355 that's been subject to address adjustment:
5358 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
5361 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
5362 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
5363 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
5364 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
5365 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
5366 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
5367 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
5368 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
5370 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
5371 adjusted breakpoints:
5374 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
5378 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
5379 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
5380 frequently than expected.
5382 @node Continuing and Stepping
5383 @section Continuing and Stepping
5387 @cindex resuming execution
5388 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
5389 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
5390 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
5391 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
5392 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
5393 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
5394 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
5395 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution (@pxref{Signals, ,Signals}),
5396 or you may step into the signal's handler (@pxref{stepping and signal
5401 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
5402 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
5403 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5404 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5405 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5406 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
5407 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
5408 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
5409 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
5410 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
5412 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
5413 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5414 @code{continue} is ignored.
5416 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5417 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5418 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5422 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5423 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5424 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5425 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5427 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5428 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5429 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5430 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5431 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5432 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5436 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5438 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5439 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5440 abbreviated @code{s}.
5443 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5444 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5445 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5446 @c distinction here.
5447 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5448 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5449 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5450 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5451 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5452 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5456 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5457 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5458 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5459 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5460 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5461 called within the line.
5463 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5464 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5465 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5466 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5467 was any debugging information about the routine.
5469 @item step @var{count}
5470 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5471 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5472 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5475 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5476 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5477 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5478 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5479 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5480 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5481 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5482 is abbreviated @code{n}.
5484 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5487 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5488 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5490 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5491 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5492 @c function are executed without stopping.
5494 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5495 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5496 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5498 @kindex set step-mode
5500 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5501 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5502 @itemx set step-mode on
5503 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5504 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5505 information rather than stepping over it.
5507 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5508 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5509 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5511 @item set step-mode off
5512 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5513 debug information. This is the default.
5515 @item show step-mode
5516 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5517 source line debug information.
5520 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5522 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5523 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5524 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5526 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5527 ,Returning from a Function}).
5530 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5531 @cindex run until specified location
5534 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5535 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5536 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5537 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5538 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5539 than the address of the jump.
5541 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5542 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5543 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5544 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5545 through the next iteration.
5547 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5550 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5551 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5552 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5553 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5554 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5558 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5560 (@value{GDBP}) until
5561 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5564 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5565 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5566 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5567 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5568 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5569 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5570 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5572 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5573 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5576 @item until @var{location}
5577 @itemx u @var{location}
5578 Continue running your program until either the specified @var{location} is
5579 reached, or the current stack frame returns. The location is any of
5580 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5581 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5582 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5583 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5584 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5585 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5586 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5587 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5588 invocations have returned.
5591 94 int factorial (int value)
5593 96 if (value > 1) @{
5594 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5601 @kindex advance @var{location}
5602 @item advance @var{location}
5603 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5604 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5605 @ref{Specify Location}.
5606 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5607 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5608 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5609 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5613 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5615 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5617 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5619 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5620 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5621 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5622 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5624 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5628 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5630 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5632 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5633 proceed until the function returns.
5635 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5639 @anchor{range stepping}
5640 @cindex range stepping
5641 @cindex target-assisted range stepping
5642 By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5643 target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5644 use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5645 tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5646 addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5647 line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5648 be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5649 possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5650 remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5651 stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5652 enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5656 @kindex set range-stepping
5657 @kindex show range-stepping
5658 @item set range-stepping
5659 @itemx show range-stepping
5660 Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5662 If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5663 target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5664 multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5665 single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5666 default is @code{on}.
5670 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5671 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5672 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5674 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5675 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} command lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5676 skip a function, all functions in a file or a particular function in
5677 a particular file when stepping.
5679 For example, consider the following C function:
5690 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5691 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5692 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5693 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5695 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5696 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5697 is called from many places.
5699 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5700 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5701 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5704 Functions may be skipped by providing either a function name, linespec
5705 (@pxref{Specify Location}), regular expression that matches the function's
5706 name, file name or a @code{glob}-style pattern that matches the file name.
5708 On Posix systems the form of the regular expression is
5709 ``Extended Regular Expressions''. See for example @samp{man 7 regex}
5710 on @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. On non-Posix systems the form of the regular
5711 expression is whatever is provided by the @code{regcomp} function of
5712 the underlying system.
5713 See for example @samp{man 7 glob} on @sc{gnu}/Linux systems for a
5714 description of @code{glob}-style patterns.
5718 @item skip @r{[}@var{options}@r{]}
5719 The basic form of the @code{skip} command takes zero or more options
5720 that specify what to skip.
5721 The @var{options} argument is any useful combination of the following:
5724 @item -file @var{file}
5725 @itemx -fi @var{file}
5726 Functions in @var{file} will be skipped over when stepping.
5728 @item -gfile @var{file-glob-pattern}
5729 @itemx -gfi @var{file-glob-pattern}
5730 @cindex skipping over files via glob-style patterns
5731 Functions in files matching @var{file-glob-pattern} will be skipped
5735 (gdb) skip -gfi utils/*.c
5738 @item -function @var{linespec}
5739 @itemx -fu @var{linespec}
5740 Functions named by @var{linespec} or the function containing the line
5741 named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when stepping.
5742 @xref{Specify Location}.
5744 @item -rfunction @var{regexp}
5745 @itemx -rfu @var{regexp}
5746 @cindex skipping over functions via regular expressions
5747 Functions whose name matches @var{regexp} will be skipped over when stepping.
5749 This form is useful for complex function names.
5750 For example, there is generally no need to step into C@t{++} @code{std::string}
5751 constructors or destructors. Plus with C@t{++} templates it can be hard to
5752 write out the full name of the function, and often it doesn't matter what
5753 the template arguments are. Specifying the function to be skipped as a
5754 regular expression makes this easier.
5757 (gdb) skip -rfu ^std::(allocator|basic_string)<.*>::~?\1 *\(
5760 If you want to skip every templated C@t{++} constructor and destructor
5761 in the @code{std} namespace you can do:
5764 (gdb) skip -rfu ^std::([a-zA-z0-9_]+)<.*>::~?\1 *\(
5768 If no options are specified, the function you're currently debugging
5771 @kindex skip function
5772 @item skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5773 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5774 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5775 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5777 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5780 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5781 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5784 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5785 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5786 will be skipped over when stepping.
5789 (gdb) skip file boring.c
5790 File boring.c will be skipped when stepping.
5793 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5794 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5797 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5798 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5802 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5803 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5804 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5805 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5809 A number identifying this skip.
5810 @item Enabled or Disabled
5811 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}.
5812 Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5814 If the file name is a @samp{glob} pattern this is @samp{y}.
5815 Otherwise it is @samp{n}.
5817 The name or @samp{glob} pattern of the file to be skipped.
5818 If no file is specified this is @samp{<none>}.
5820 If the function name is a @samp{regular expression} this is @samp{y}.
5821 Otherwise it is @samp{n}.
5823 The name or regular expression of the function to skip.
5824 If no function is specified this is @samp{<none>}.
5828 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5829 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5833 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5834 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5837 @kindex skip disable
5838 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5839 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5848 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5849 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5850 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5851 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5852 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5853 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5854 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5855 requested an alarm).
5857 @cindex fatal signals
5858 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5859 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5860 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5861 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5862 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5863 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5865 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5866 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5869 @cindex handling signals
5870 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5871 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5872 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5873 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5874 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5877 @kindex info signals
5881 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5882 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5883 the defined types of signals.
5885 @item info signals @var{sig}
5886 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5888 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5890 @item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5891 Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5892 for details about this command.
5895 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5896 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. The @var{signal}
5897 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5898 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5899 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5900 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5901 say what change to make.
5905 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5906 Their full names are:
5910 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5911 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5914 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5915 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5918 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5921 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5922 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5926 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5927 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5928 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5932 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5933 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5937 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5939 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5940 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5941 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5942 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5943 program sees that signal when you continue.
5945 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5946 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5947 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5950 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5951 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5952 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5953 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5954 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5955 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5956 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5957 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5960 @cindex stepping and signal handlers
5961 @anchor{stepping and signal handlers}
5963 @value{GDBN} optimizes for stepping the mainline code. If a signal
5964 that has @code{handle nostop} and @code{handle pass} set arrives while
5965 a stepping command (e.g., @code{stepi}, @code{step}, @code{next}) is
5966 in progress, @value{GDBN} lets the signal handler run and then resumes
5967 stepping the mainline code once the signal handler returns. In other
5968 words, @value{GDBN} steps over the signal handler. This prevents
5969 signals that you've specified as not interesting (with @code{handle
5970 nostop}) from changing the focus of debugging unexpectedly. Note that
5971 the signal handler itself may still hit a breakpoint, stop for another
5972 signal that has @code{handle stop} in effect, or for any other event
5973 that normally results in stopping the stepping command sooner. Also
5974 note that @value{GDBN} still informs you that the program received a
5975 signal if @code{handle print} is set.
5977 @anchor{stepping into signal handlers}
5979 If you set @code{handle pass} for a signal, and your program sets up a
5980 handler for it, then issuing a stepping command, such as @code{step}
5981 or @code{stepi}, when your program is stopped due to the signal will
5982 step @emph{into} the signal handler (if the target supports that).
5984 Likewise, if you use the @code{queue-signal} command to queue a signal
5985 to be delivered to the current thread when execution of the thread
5986 resumes (@pxref{Signaling, ,Giving your Program a Signal}), then a
5987 stepping command will step into the signal handler.
5989 Here's an example, using @code{stepi} to step to the first instruction
5990 of @code{SIGUSR1}'s handler:
5993 (@value{GDBP}) handle SIGUSR1
5994 Signal Stop Print Pass to program Description
5995 SIGUSR1 Yes Yes Yes User defined signal 1
5999 Program received signal SIGUSR1, User defined signal 1.
6000 main () sigusr1.c:28
6003 sigusr1_handler () at sigusr1.c:9
6007 The same, but using @code{queue-signal} instead of waiting for the
6008 program to receive the signal first:
6013 (@value{GDBP}) queue-signal SIGUSR1
6015 sigusr1_handler () at sigusr1.c:9
6020 @cindex extra signal information
6021 @anchor{extra signal information}
6023 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
6024 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
6025 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
6026 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
6027 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
6028 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
6029 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
6030 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
6031 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
6034 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
6035 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
6039 (@value{GDBP}) continue
6040 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
6041 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
6043 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
6050 struct @{...@} _kill;
6051 struct @{...@} _timer;
6053 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
6054 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
6055 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
6058 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
6062 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
6063 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
6067 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
6069 @cindex Intel MPX boundary violations
6070 @cindex boundary violations, Intel MPX
6071 On some targets, a @code{SIGSEGV} can be caused by a boundary
6072 violation, i.e., accessing an address outside of the allowed range.
6073 In those cases @value{GDBN} may displays additional information,
6074 depending on how @value{GDBN} has been told to handle the signal.
6075 With @code{handle stop SIGSEGV}, @value{GDBN} displays the violation
6076 kind: "Upper" or "Lower", the memory address accessed and the
6077 bounds, while with @code{handle nostop SIGSEGV} no additional
6078 information is displayed.
6080 The usual output of a segfault is:
6082 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault
6083 0x0000000000400d7c in upper () at i386-mpx-sigsegv.c:68
6084 68 value = *(p + len);
6087 While a bound violation is presented as:
6089 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault
6090 Upper bound violation while accessing address 0x7fffffffc3b3
6091 Bounds: [lower = 0x7fffffffc390, upper = 0x7fffffffc3a3]
6092 0x0000000000400d7c in upper () at i386-mpx-sigsegv.c:68
6093 68 value = *(p + len);
6097 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
6099 @cindex stopped threads
6100 @cindex threads, stopped
6102 @cindex continuing threads
6103 @cindex threads, continuing
6105 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
6106 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
6107 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
6108 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
6109 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
6110 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
6111 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
6112 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
6113 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
6116 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
6117 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
6118 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
6119 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
6120 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
6121 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
6125 @subsection All-Stop Mode
6127 @cindex all-stop mode
6129 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
6130 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
6131 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
6132 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
6135 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
6136 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
6137 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
6139 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
6140 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
6141 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
6142 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
6143 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
6144 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
6147 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
6148 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
6149 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
6150 first thread completes whatever you requested.
6152 @cindex automatic thread selection
6153 @cindex switching threads automatically
6154 @cindex threads, automatic switching
6155 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
6156 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
6157 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
6158 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
6161 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
6162 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
6165 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
6166 @cindex scheduler locking mode
6167 @cindex lock scheduler
6168 Set the scheduler locking mode. It applies to normal execution,
6169 record mode, and replay mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
6170 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only
6171 the current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The
6172 @code{step} mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other
6173 threads from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so
6174 that the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly. Other
6175 threads never get a chance to run when you step, and they are
6176 completely free to run when you use commands like @samp{continue},
6177 @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another thread hits a
6178 breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change the
6179 current thread away from the thread that you are debugging. The
6180 @code{replay} mode behaves like @code{off} in record mode and like
6181 @code{on} in replay mode.
6183 @item show scheduler-locking
6184 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
6187 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
6188 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
6189 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
6190 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
6191 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
6192 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
6193 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
6194 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
6195 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
6196 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
6197 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
6198 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
6199 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
6200 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
6203 @kindex set schedule-multiple
6204 @item set schedule-multiple
6205 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
6206 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
6207 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
6208 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
6209 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
6210 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
6212 @item show schedule-multiple
6213 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
6218 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
6220 @cindex non-stop mode
6222 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
6223 @c with more details.
6225 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
6226 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
6227 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
6228 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
6229 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
6230 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
6232 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
6233 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
6234 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
6235 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
6236 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
6237 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
6238 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
6239 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
6240 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
6241 independently and simultaneously.
6243 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
6244 or attach to your program:
6247 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
6250 # Finally, turn it on!
6254 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
6257 @kindex set non-stop
6258 @item set non-stop on
6259 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
6260 @item set non-stop off
6261 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
6262 @kindex show non-stop
6264 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
6267 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
6268 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
6269 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
6270 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
6271 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
6272 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
6273 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
6276 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
6277 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
6278 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
6280 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
6281 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
6282 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
6283 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
6284 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
6286 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
6287 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
6288 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
6289 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
6290 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
6292 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
6294 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
6295 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
6296 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
6297 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
6298 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
6299 previously current thread.
6301 @node Background Execution
6302 @subsection Background Execution
6304 @cindex foreground execution
6305 @cindex background execution
6306 @cindex asynchronous execution
6307 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
6309 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
6310 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
6311 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
6312 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
6313 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
6314 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
6316 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
6317 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
6319 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
6320 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
6321 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
6327 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
6331 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
6335 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
6339 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
6343 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
6347 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
6351 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
6355 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
6359 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
6363 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
6364 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
6365 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
6366 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
6367 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
6368 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
6370 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
6371 using the @code{interrupt} command.
6378 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
6379 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
6380 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
6381 use @code{interrupt -a}.
6384 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
6385 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
6387 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
6388 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
6389 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
6392 @cindex breakpoints and threads
6393 @cindex thread breakpoints
6394 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{thread-id}
6395 @item break @var{location} thread @var{thread-id}
6396 @itemx break @var{location} thread @var{thread-id} if @dots{}
6397 @var{location} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
6398 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
6399 specify some source line.
6401 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{thread-id}} with a breakpoint command
6402 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
6403 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. The @var{thread-id} specifier
6404 is one of the thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown
6405 in the first column of the @samp{info threads} display.
6407 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{thread-id}} when you set a
6408 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
6411 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
6412 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{thread-id}} before or
6413 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
6416 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
6421 Thread-specific breakpoints are automatically deleted when
6422 @value{GDBN} detects the corresponding thread is no longer in the
6423 thread list. For example:
6427 Thread-specific breakpoint 3 deleted - thread 28 no longer in the thread list.
6430 There are several ways for a thread to disappear, such as a regular
6431 thread exit, but also when you detach from the process with the
6432 @code{detach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
6433 Process}), or if @value{GDBN} loses the remote connection
6434 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), etc. Note that with some targets,
6435 @value{GDBN} is only able to detect a thread has exited when the user
6436 explictly asks for the thread list with the @code{info threads}
6439 @node Interrupted System Calls
6440 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
6442 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
6443 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
6444 @cindex premature return from system calls
6445 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
6446 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
6447 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
6448 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
6449 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
6450 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
6453 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
6454 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
6457 For example, do not write code like this:
6463 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
6464 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
6466 Instead, write this:
6471 unslept = sleep (unslept);
6474 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
6475 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
6476 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
6479 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
6480 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
6481 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
6482 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
6485 @subsection Observer Mode
6487 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
6488 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
6489 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
6490 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
6491 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
6493 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
6494 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
6495 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
6498 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
6499 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
6500 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
6501 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
6502 stream will still not be able to be placed.
6507 @item set observer on
6508 @itemx set observer off
6509 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
6510 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
6511 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
6512 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
6515 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
6517 @kindex may-write-registers
6518 @item set may-write-registers on
6519 @itemx set may-write-registers off
6520 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
6521 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
6522 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
6524 @item show may-write-registers
6525 Show the current permission to write registers.
6527 @kindex may-write-memory
6528 @item set may-write-memory on
6529 @itemx set may-write-memory off
6530 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
6531 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
6532 defaults to @code{on}.
6534 @item show may-write-memory
6535 Show the current permission to write memory.
6537 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
6538 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
6539 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
6540 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
6541 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
6542 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6544 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
6545 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
6547 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
6548 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
6549 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
6550 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
6551 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6552 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
6553 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6555 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
6556 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
6558 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6559 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
6560 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
6561 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
6562 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6563 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
6564 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6566 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6567 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
6569 @kindex may-interrupt
6570 @item set may-interrupt on
6571 @itemx set may-interrupt off
6572 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6573 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6574 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6575 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6577 @item show may-interrupt
6578 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6582 @node Reverse Execution
6583 @chapter Running programs backward
6584 @cindex reverse execution
6585 @cindex running programs backward
6587 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6588 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6589 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6590 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6592 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6593 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6594 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6595 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6596 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6597 all target environments can support reverse execution.
6599 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6600 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6601 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6602 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6603 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6604 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6605 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6606 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6607 prior values@footnote{
6608 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6609 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6610 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6612 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6613 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6614 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6615 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6616 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6617 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6618 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6621 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6622 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6625 @kindex reverse-continue
6626 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6627 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6628 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6629 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6630 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6631 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6632 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6634 @kindex reverse-step
6635 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6636 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6637 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6638 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6640 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6641 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6642 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6643 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6644 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6645 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6647 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6648 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6650 @kindex reverse-stepi
6651 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6652 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6653 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6654 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6655 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6656 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6657 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6659 @kindex reverse-next
6660 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6661 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6662 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6663 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6664 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6665 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6666 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6667 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6668 line of a function back to its return to its caller
6669 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6671 @kindex reverse-nexti
6672 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6673 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6674 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6675 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6676 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6677 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6678 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6681 @kindex reverse-finish
6682 @item reverse-finish
6683 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6684 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6685 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6686 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6688 @kindex set exec-direction
6689 @item set exec-direction
6690 Set the direction of target execution.
6691 @item set exec-direction reverse
6692 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
6693 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6694 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6695 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6696 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6697 @item set exec-direction forward
6698 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6699 This is the default.
6703 @node Process Record and Replay
6704 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6705 @cindex process record and replay
6706 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6708 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6709 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6710 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6713 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6714 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6715 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6716 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6717 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6718 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6719 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6720 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6724 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6725 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6726 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6729 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6730 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6731 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6732 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6733 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6734 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6736 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6737 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6738 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6739 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6741 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6742 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6745 @kindex target record
6746 @kindex target record-full
6747 @kindex target record-btrace
6750 @kindex record btrace
6751 @kindex record btrace bts
6752 @kindex record btrace pt
6758 @kindex rec btrace bts
6759 @kindex rec btrace pt
6762 @item record @var{method}
6763 This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6764 recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6765 the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6766 recording methods are available:
6770 Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6771 replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6774 @item btrace @var{format}
6775 Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not record
6776 data. Further, the data is collected in a ring buffer so old data will
6777 be overwritten when the buffer is full. It allows limited reverse
6778 execution. Variables and registers are not available during reverse
6779 execution. In remote debugging, recording continues on disconnect.
6780 Recorded data can be inspected after reconnecting. The recording may
6781 be stopped using @code{record stop}.
6783 The recording format can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6784 the command chooses the recording format. The following recording
6785 formats are available:
6789 @cindex branch trace store
6790 Use the @dfn{Branch Trace Store} (@acronym{BTS}) recording format. In
6791 this format, the processor stores a from/to record for each executed
6792 branch in the btrace ring buffer.
6795 @cindex Intel Processor Trace
6796 Use the @dfn{Intel Processor Trace} recording format. In this
6797 format, the processor stores the execution trace in a compressed form
6798 that is afterwards decoded by @value{GDBN}.
6800 The trace can be recorded with very low overhead. The compressed
6801 trace format also allows small trace buffers to already contain a big
6802 number of instructions compared to @acronym{BTS}.
6804 Decoding the recorded execution trace, on the other hand, is more
6805 expensive than decoding @acronym{BTS} trace. This is mostly due to the
6806 increased number of instructions to process. You should increase the
6807 buffer-size with care.
6810 Not all recording formats may be available on all processors.
6813 The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6814 already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6815 the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6816 with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6818 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6819 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6820 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6821 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6822 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6824 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6825 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6826 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6827 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6828 all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6829 does not support these two modes.
6834 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6835 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6836 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6838 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6839 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6840 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6841 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6842 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6844 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6845 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6846 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6847 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6848 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6850 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6851 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6855 Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6856 ways to specify the location to go to:
6859 @item record goto begin
6860 @itemx record goto start
6861 Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6863 @item record goto end
6864 Go to the end of the execution log.
6866 @item record goto @var{n}
6867 Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6871 @item record save @var{filename}
6872 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6873 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6874 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6876 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6878 @kindex record restore
6879 @item record restore @var{filename}
6880 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6881 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6883 @kindex set record full
6884 @item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6885 @itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6886 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6887 recording method. Default value is 200000.
6889 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6890 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6891 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6892 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6893 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6894 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6895 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6896 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6898 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6899 delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6900 recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6902 @kindex show record full
6903 @item show record full insn-number-max
6904 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6907 @item set record full stop-at-limit
6908 Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6909 number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6910 default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6911 first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6912 continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6913 to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6914 oldest one to be deleted.
6916 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6917 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6919 @item show record full stop-at-limit
6920 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6922 @item set record full memory-query
6923 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6924 changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6925 If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6928 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6929 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6930 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6931 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6934 @item show record full memory-query
6935 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6937 @kindex set record btrace
6938 The @code{btrace} record target does not trace data. As a
6939 convenience, when replaying, @value{GDBN} reads read-only memory off
6940 the live program directly, assuming that the addresses of the
6941 read-only areas don't change. This for example makes it possible to
6942 disassemble code while replaying, but not to print variables.
6943 In some cases, being able to inspect variables might be useful.
6944 You can use the following command for that:
6946 @item set record btrace replay-memory-access
6947 Control the behavior of the @code{btrace} recording method when
6948 accessing memory during replay. If @code{read-only} (the default),
6949 @value{GDBN} will only allow accesses to read-only memory.
6950 If @code{read-write}, @value{GDBN} will allow accesses to read-only
6951 and to read-write memory. Beware that the accessed memory corresponds
6952 to the live target and not necessarily to the current replay
6955 @item set record btrace cpu @var{identifier}
6956 Set the processor to be used for enabling workarounds for processor
6957 errata when decoding the trace.
6959 Processor errata are defects in processor operation, caused by its
6960 design or manufacture. They can cause a trace not to match the
6961 specification. This, in turn, may cause trace decode to fail.
6962 @value{GDBN} can detect erroneous trace packets and correct them, thus
6963 avoiding the decoding failures. These corrections are known as
6964 @dfn{errata workarounds}, and are enabled based on the processor on
6965 which the trace was recorded.
6967 By default, @value{GDBN} attempts to detect the processor
6968 automatically, and apply the necessary workarounds for it. However,
6969 you may need to specify the processor if @value{GDBN} does not yet
6970 support it. This command allows you to do that, and also allows to
6971 disable the workarounds.
6973 The argument @var{identifier} identifies the @sc{cpu} and is of the
6974 form: @code{@var{vendor}:@var{procesor identifier}}. In addition,
6975 there are two special identifiers, @code{none} and @code{auto}
6978 The following vendor identifiers and corresponding processor
6979 identifiers are currently supported:
6981 @multitable @columnfractions .1 .9
6984 @tab @var{family}/@var{model}[/@var{stepping}]
6988 On GNU/Linux systems, the processor @var{family}, @var{model}, and
6989 @var{stepping} can be obtained from @code{/proc/cpuinfo}.
6991 If @var{identifier} is @code{auto}, enable errata workarounds for the
6992 processor on which the trace was recorded. If @var{identifier} is
6993 @code{none}, errata workarounds are disabled.
6995 For example, when using an old @value{GDBN} on a new system, decode
6996 may fail because @value{GDBN} does not support the new processor. It
6997 often suffices to specify an older processor that @value{GDBN}
7002 Active record target: record-btrace
7003 Recording format: Intel Processor Trace.
7005 Failed to configure the Intel Processor Trace decoder: unknown cpu.
7006 (gdb) set record btrace cpu intel:6/158
7008 Active record target: record-btrace
7009 Recording format: Intel Processor Trace.
7011 Recorded 84872 instructions in 3189 functions (0 gaps) for thread 1 (...).
7014 @kindex show record btrace
7015 @item show record btrace replay-memory-access
7016 Show the current setting of @code{replay-memory-access}.
7018 @item show record btrace cpu
7019 Show the processor to be used for enabling trace decode errata
7022 @kindex set record btrace bts
7023 @item set record btrace bts buffer-size @var{size}
7024 @itemx set record btrace bts buffer-size unlimited
7025 Set the requested ring buffer size for branch tracing in @acronym{BTS}
7026 format. Default is 64KB.
7028 If @var{size} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will try to
7029 allocate a buffer of at least @var{size} bytes for each new thread
7030 that uses the btrace recording method and the @acronym{BTS} format.
7031 The actually obtained buffer size may differ from the requested
7032 @var{size}. Use the @code{info record} command to see the actual
7033 buffer size for each thread that uses the btrace recording method and
7034 the @acronym{BTS} format.
7036 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will try to
7037 allocate a buffer of 4MB.
7039 Bigger buffers mean longer traces. On the other hand, @value{GDBN} will
7040 also need longer to process the branch trace data before it can be used.
7042 @item show record btrace bts buffer-size @var{size}
7043 Show the current setting of the requested ring buffer size for branch
7044 tracing in @acronym{BTS} format.
7046 @kindex set record btrace pt
7047 @item set record btrace pt buffer-size @var{size}
7048 @itemx set record btrace pt buffer-size unlimited
7049 Set the requested ring buffer size for branch tracing in Intel
7050 Processor Trace format. Default is 16KB.
7052 If @var{size} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will try to
7053 allocate a buffer of at least @var{size} bytes for each new thread
7054 that uses the btrace recording method and the Intel Processor Trace
7055 format. The actually obtained buffer size may differ from the
7056 requested @var{size}. Use the @code{info record} command to see the
7057 actual buffer size for each thread.
7059 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will try to
7060 allocate a buffer of 4MB.
7062 Bigger buffers mean longer traces. On the other hand, @value{GDBN} will
7063 also need longer to process the branch trace data before it can be used.
7065 @item show record btrace pt buffer-size @var{size}
7066 Show the current setting of the requested ring buffer size for branch
7067 tracing in Intel Processor Trace format.
7071 Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
7076 For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
7077 record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
7081 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
7083 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
7085 Highest recorded instruction number.
7087 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
7089 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
7091 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
7095 For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows:
7101 Number of instructions that have been recorded.
7103 Number of blocks of sequential control-flow formed by the recorded
7106 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
7109 For the @code{bts} recording format, it also shows:
7112 Size of the perf ring buffer.
7115 For the @code{pt} recording format, it also shows:
7118 Size of the perf ring buffer.
7122 @kindex record delete
7125 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
7126 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
7127 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
7128 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
7130 @kindex record instruction-history
7131 @kindex rec instruction-history
7132 @item record instruction-history
7133 Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
7134 default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
7135 the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
7136 are printed in execution order.
7138 It can also print mixed source+disassembly if you specify the the
7139 @code{/m} or @code{/s} modifier, and print the raw instructions in hex
7140 as well as in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r} modifier.
7142 The current position marker is printed for the instruction at the
7143 current program counter value. This instruction can appear multiple
7144 times in the trace and the current position marker will be printed
7145 every time. To omit the current position marker, specify the
7148 To better align the printed instructions when the trace contains
7149 instructions from more than one function, the function name may be
7150 omitted by specifying the @code{/f} modifier.
7152 Speculatively executed instructions are prefixed with @samp{?}. This
7153 feature is not available for all recording formats.
7155 There are several ways to specify what part of the execution log to
7159 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}
7160 Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
7163 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
7164 Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
7165 @var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
7166 @var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
7167 @var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
7168 instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
7170 @item record instruction-history
7171 Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
7173 @item record instruction-history -
7174 Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
7176 @item record instruction-history @var{begin}, @var{end}
7177 Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
7178 @var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
7179 number @var{end} is included.
7182 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
7185 @item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
7186 @itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
7187 Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
7188 instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
7189 A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
7192 @item show record instruction-history-size
7193 Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
7194 instruction-history} command.
7196 @kindex record function-call-history
7197 @kindex rec function-call-history
7198 @item record function-call-history
7199 Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
7200 line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
7201 function giving the name of that function, the source lines
7202 for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
7203 specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
7204 the @code{/i} modifier is specified). The function names are indented
7205 to reflect the call stack depth if the @code{/c} modifier is
7206 specified. The @code{/l}, @code{/i}, and @code{/c} modifiers can be
7210 (@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
7221 (@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /ilc}
7222 1 bar inst 1,4 at foo.c:6,8
7223 2 foo inst 5,10 at foo.c:2,3
7224 3 bar inst 11,13 at foo.c:9,10
7227 By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
7228 @code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
7229 printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
7233 @item record function-call-history @var{func}
7234 Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
7236 @item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
7237 Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
7238 @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
7239 function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
7240 prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
7242 @item record function-call-history
7243 Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
7245 @item record function-call-history -
7246 Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
7248 @item record function-call-history @var{begin}, @var{end}
7249 Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
7250 function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is included.
7253 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
7255 @item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
7256 @itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
7257 Define how many lines to print in the
7258 @code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
7259 A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
7261 @item show record function-call-history-size
7262 Show how many lines to print in the
7263 @code{record function-call-history} command.
7268 @chapter Examining the Stack
7270 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
7271 stopped and how it got there.
7274 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
7276 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
7277 the arguments of the call,
7278 and the local variables of the function being called.
7279 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
7280 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
7283 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
7284 stack allow you to see all of this information.
7286 @cindex selected frame
7287 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
7288 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
7289 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
7290 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
7291 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
7292 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7294 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
7295 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
7296 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
7299 * Frames:: Stack frames
7300 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
7301 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
7302 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
7303 * Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
7308 @section Stack Frames
7310 @cindex frame, definition
7312 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
7313 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
7314 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
7315 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
7316 which the function is executing.
7318 @cindex initial frame
7319 @cindex outermost frame
7320 @cindex innermost frame
7321 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
7322 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
7323 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
7324 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
7325 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
7326 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
7327 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
7328 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
7330 @cindex frame pointer
7331 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
7332 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
7333 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
7334 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
7335 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
7336 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
7338 @cindex frame number
7339 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
7340 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
7341 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
7342 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
7343 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
7345 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
7346 @c underflow problems.
7347 @cindex frameless execution
7348 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
7349 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
7351 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
7353 generates functions without a frame.)
7354 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
7355 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
7356 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
7357 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
7358 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
7359 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
7360 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
7366 @cindex call stack traces
7367 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
7368 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
7369 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
7372 @anchor{backtrace-command}
7374 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
7375 To print a backtrace of the entire stack, use the @code{backtrace}
7376 command, or its alias @code{bt}. This command will print one line per
7377 frame for frames in the stack. By default, all stack frames are
7378 printed. You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system
7379 interrupt character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
7382 @item backtrace [@var{args}@dots{}]
7383 @itemx bt [@var{args}@dots{}]
7384 Print the backtrace of the entire stack. The optional @var{args} can
7385 be one of the following:
7390 Print only the innermost @var{n} frames, where @var{n} is a positive
7395 Print only the outermost @var{n} frames, where @var{n} is a positive
7399 Print the values of the local variables also. This can be combined
7400 with a number to limit the number of frames shown.
7403 Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
7404 Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
7405 frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
7406 relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
7410 A Python frame filter might decide to ``elide'' some frames. Normally
7411 such elided frames are still printed, but they are indented relative
7412 to the filtered frames that cause them to be elided. The @code{hide}
7413 option causes elided frames to not be printed at all.
7419 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
7420 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
7422 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
7423 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
7424 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
7425 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
7426 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
7427 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
7428 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
7429 multi-threaded program.
7431 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
7432 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
7433 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
7434 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
7435 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
7438 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
7439 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
7443 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
7445 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
7446 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
7448 (More stack frames follow...)
7453 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
7454 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
7455 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
7458 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
7459 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
7460 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
7461 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
7462 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
7464 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
7465 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
7466 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
7467 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
7468 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
7469 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
7470 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
7471 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
7472 such a backtrace might look like:
7476 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
7478 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
7479 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
7481 (More stack frames follow...)
7486 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
7487 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
7489 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
7490 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
7491 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
7493 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
7494 @cindex program entry point
7495 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
7496 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
7497 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
7498 @code{main}@footnote{
7499 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
7500 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
7501 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
7502 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
7503 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
7504 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
7506 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
7507 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
7510 @item set backtrace past-main
7511 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
7512 @kindex set backtrace
7513 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
7515 @item set backtrace past-main off
7516 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
7519 @item show backtrace past-main
7520 @kindex show backtrace
7521 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
7523 @item set backtrace past-entry
7524 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
7525 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
7526 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
7527 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
7529 @item set backtrace past-entry off
7530 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
7531 application. This is the default.
7533 @item show backtrace past-entry
7534 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
7536 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
7537 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
7538 @itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
7539 @cindex backtrace limit
7540 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
7541 or zero means unlimited levels.
7543 @item show backtrace limit
7544 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
7547 You can control how file names are displayed.
7550 @item set filename-display
7551 @itemx set filename-display relative
7552 @cindex filename-display
7553 Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
7555 @item set filename-display basename
7556 Display only basename of a filename.
7558 @item set filename-display absolute
7559 Display an absolute filename.
7561 @item show filename-display
7562 Show the current way to display filenames.
7566 @section Selecting a Frame
7568 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
7569 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
7570 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
7571 of the stack frame just selected.
7574 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
7575 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
7578 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
7579 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
7580 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
7583 @item frame @var{stack-addr} [ @var{pc-addr} ]
7584 @itemx f @var{stack-addr} [ @var{pc-addr} ]
7585 Select the frame at address @var{stack-addr}. This is useful mainly if the
7586 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
7587 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
7588 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
7589 switches between them. The optional @var{pc-addr} can also be given to
7590 specify the value of PC for the stack frame.
7594 Move @var{n} frames up the stack; @var{n} defaults to 1. For positive
7595 numbers @var{n}, this advances toward the outermost frame, to higher
7596 frame numbers, to frames that have existed longer.
7599 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
7601 Move @var{n} frames down the stack; @var{n} defaults to 1. For
7602 positive numbers @var{n}, this advances toward the innermost frame, to
7603 lower frame numbers, to frames that were created more recently.
7604 You may abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
7607 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
7608 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
7609 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
7610 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
7618 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
7620 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7624 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7625 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7626 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7627 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7628 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7632 @kindex select-frame
7634 The @code{select-frame} command is a variant of @code{frame} that does
7635 not display the new frame after selecting it. This command is
7636 intended primarily for use in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the
7637 output might be unnecessary and distracting.
7639 @kindex down-silently
7641 @item up-silently @var{n}
7642 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
7643 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7644 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7645 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7646 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7651 @section Information About a Frame
7653 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7659 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7660 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7661 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7662 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7663 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7666 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7669 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7674 the address of the frame
7676 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7678 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7680 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7682 the address of the frame's arguments
7684 the address of the frame's local variables
7686 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7688 which registers were saved in the frame
7691 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
7692 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7693 the usual conventions.
7695 @item info frame @var{addr}
7696 @itemx info f @var{addr}
7697 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7698 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7699 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7700 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7701 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7705 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7709 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7710 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7711 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7715 @node Frame Filter Management
7716 @section Management of Frame Filters.
7717 @cindex managing frame filters
7719 Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
7720 output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
7722 Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
7723 within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
7726 @kindex info frame-filter
7727 @item info frame-filter
7728 Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
7729 their name, priority and enabled status.
7731 @kindex disable frame-filter
7732 @anchor{disable frame-filter all}
7733 @item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7734 Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7735 @var{filter-dictionary} and @var{filter-name}. The
7736 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
7737 @code{progspace}, or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7738 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
7739 across all dictionaries are disabled. The @var{filter-name} is the name
7740 of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
7741 @var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
7742 may be enabled again later.
7744 @kindex enable frame-filter
7745 @item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7746 Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7747 @var{filter-dictionary} and @var{filter-name}. The
7748 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
7749 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7750 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
7751 all dictionaries are enabled. The @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
7752 filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
7753 @var{filter-dictionary}.
7758 (gdb) info frame-filter
7760 global frame-filters:
7761 Priority Enabled Name
7762 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
7765 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7766 Priority Enabled Name
7767 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7769 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7770 Priority Enabled Name
7771 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
7773 (gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
7774 (gdb) info frame-filter
7776 global frame-filters:
7777 Priority Enabled Name
7778 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
7781 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7782 Priority Enabled Name
7783 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7785 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7786 Priority Enabled Name
7787 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7789 (gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
7790 (gdb) info frame-filter
7792 global frame-filters:
7793 Priority Enabled Name
7794 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7797 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7798 Priority Enabled Name
7799 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7801 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7802 Priority Enabled Name
7803 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7806 @kindex set frame-filter priority
7807 @item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
7808 Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7809 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
7810 @var{filter-name}. The @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
7811 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7812 dictionary resides. The @var{priority} is an integer.
7814 @kindex show frame-filter priority
7815 @item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7816 Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7817 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
7818 @var{filter-name}. The @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
7819 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7825 (gdb) info frame-filter
7827 global frame-filters:
7828 Priority Enabled Name
7829 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7832 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7833 Priority Enabled Name
7834 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7836 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7837 Priority Enabled Name
7838 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7840 (gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
7841 (gdb) info frame-filter
7843 global frame-filters:
7844 Priority Enabled Name
7845 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7848 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7849 Priority Enabled Name
7850 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7852 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7853 Priority Enabled Name
7854 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7859 @chapter Examining Source Files
7861 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7862 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7863 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7864 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7865 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7866 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7867 source files by explicit command.
7869 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7870 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7871 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7874 * List:: Printing source lines
7875 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7876 * Edit:: Editing source files
7877 * Search:: Searching source files
7878 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7879 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7883 @section Printing Source Lines
7886 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7887 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7888 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7889 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7890 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7892 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7895 @item list @var{linenum}
7896 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7897 current source file.
7899 @item list @var{function}
7900 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7904 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7905 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7906 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7907 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7908 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7911 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7914 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7915 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7916 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7919 @kindex set listsize
7920 @item set listsize @var{count}
7921 @itemx set listsize unlimited
7922 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7923 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7924 Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7926 @kindex show listsize
7928 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7931 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7932 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7933 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7934 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7935 each repetition moves up in the source file.
7937 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7938 @dfn{locations}. Locations specify source lines; there are several ways
7939 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7940 to specify some source line.
7942 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7945 @item list @var{location}
7946 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{location}.
7948 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
7949 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7950 locations. When a @code{list} command has two locations, and the
7951 source file of the second location is omitted, this refers to
7952 the same source file as the first location.
7954 @item list ,@var{last}
7955 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7957 @item list @var{first},
7958 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7961 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7964 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7967 As described in the preceding table.
7970 @node Specify Location
7971 @section Specifying a Location
7972 @cindex specifying location
7974 @cindex source location
7977 * Linespec Locations:: Linespec locations
7978 * Explicit Locations:: Explicit locations
7979 * Address Locations:: Address locations
7982 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7983 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7984 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code.
7985 Locations may be specified using three different formats:
7986 linespec locations, explicit locations, or address locations.
7988 @node Linespec Locations
7989 @subsection Linespec Locations
7990 @cindex linespec locations
7992 A @dfn{linespec} is a colon-separated list of source location parameters such
7993 as file name, function name, etc. Here are all the different ways of
7994 specifying a linespec:
7998 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
8001 @itemx +@var{offset}
8002 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
8003 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
8004 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
8005 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
8006 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
8007 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
8008 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
8011 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
8012 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
8013 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
8014 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
8015 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
8016 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
8017 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
8019 @item @var{function}
8020 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
8021 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
8023 By default, in C@t{++} and Ada, @var{function} is interpreted as
8024 specifying all functions named @var{function} in all scopes. For
8025 C@t{++}, this means in all namespaces and classes. For Ada, this
8026 means in all packages.
8028 For example, assuming a program with C@t{++} symbols named
8029 @code{A::B::func} and @code{B::func}, both commands @w{@kbd{break
8030 func}} and @w{@kbd{break B::func}} set a breakpoint on both symbols.
8032 Commands that accept a linespec let you override this with the
8033 @code{-qualified} option. For example, @w{@kbd{break -qualified
8034 func}} sets a breakpoint on a free-function named @code{func} ignoring
8035 any C@t{++} class methods and namespace functions called @code{func}.
8037 @xref{Explicit Locations}.
8039 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
8040 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
8042 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
8043 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
8044 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
8045 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
8046 functions in different source files.
8049 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears
8050 in the function corresponding to the currently selected stack frame.
8051 If there is no current selected stack frame (for instance, if the inferior
8052 is not running), then @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
8054 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
8055 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
8056 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
8057 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
8058 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
8059 specifies the location of such a static probe.
8061 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
8062 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
8063 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
8064 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
8065 each one of those probes.
8068 @node Explicit Locations
8069 @subsection Explicit Locations
8070 @cindex explicit locations
8072 @dfn{Explicit locations} allow the user to directly specify the source
8073 location's parameters using option-value pairs.
8075 Explicit locations are useful when several functions, labels, or
8076 file names have the same name (base name for files) in the program's
8077 sources. In these cases, explicit locations point to the source
8078 line you meant more accurately and unambiguously. Also, using
8079 explicit locations might be faster in large programs.
8081 For example, the linespec @samp{foo:bar} may refer to a function @code{bar}
8082 defined in the file named @file{foo} or the label @code{bar} in a function
8083 named @code{foo}. @value{GDBN} must search either the file system or
8084 the symbol table to know.
8086 The list of valid explicit location options is summarized in the
8090 @item -source @var{filename}
8091 The value specifies the source file name. To differentiate between
8092 files with the same base name, prepend as many directories as is necessary
8093 to uniquely identify the desired file, e.g., @file{foo/bar/baz.c}. Otherwise
8094 @value{GDBN} will use the first file it finds with the given base
8095 name. This option requires the use of either @code{-function} or @code{-line}.
8097 @item -function @var{function}
8098 The value specifies the name of a function. Operations
8099 on function locations unmodified by other options (such as @code{-label}
8100 or @code{-line}) refer to the line that begins the body of the function.
8101 In C, for example, this is the line with the open brace.
8103 By default, in C@t{++} and Ada, @var{function} is interpreted as
8104 specifying all functions named @var{function} in all scopes. For
8105 C@t{++}, this means in all namespaces and classes. For Ada, this
8106 means in all packages.
8108 For example, assuming a program with C@t{++} symbols named
8109 @code{A::B::func} and @code{B::func}, both commands @w{@kbd{break
8110 -function func}} and @w{@kbd{break -function B::func}} set a
8111 breakpoint on both symbols.
8113 You can use the @kbd{-qualified} flag to override this (see below).
8117 This flag makes @value{GDBN} interpret a function name specified with
8118 @kbd{-function} as a complete fully-qualified name.
8120 For example, assuming a C@t{++} program with symbols named
8121 @code{A::B::func} and @code{B::func}, the @w{@kbd{break -qualified
8122 -function B::func}} command sets a breakpoint on @code{B::func}, only.
8124 (Note: the @kbd{-qualified} option can precede a linespec as well
8125 (@pxref{Linespec Locations}), so the particular example above could be
8126 simplified as @w{@kbd{break -qualified B::func}}.)
8128 @item -label @var{label}
8129 The value specifies the name of a label. When the function
8130 name is not specified, the label is searched in the function of the currently
8131 selected stack frame.
8133 @item -line @var{number}
8134 The value specifies a line offset for the location. The offset may either
8135 be absolute (@code{-line 3}) or relative (@code{-line +3}), depending on
8136 the command. When specified without any other options, the line offset is
8137 relative to the current line.
8140 Explicit location options may be abbreviated by omitting any non-unique
8141 trailing characters from the option name, e.g., @w{@kbd{break -s main.c -li 3}}.
8143 @node Address Locations
8144 @subsection Address Locations
8145 @cindex address locations
8147 @dfn{Address locations} indicate a specific program address. They have
8148 the generalized form *@var{address}.
8150 For line-oriented commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this
8151 specifies a source line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and
8152 other breakpoint-oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
8153 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
8156 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
8157 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
8158 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
8159 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover several situations
8160 that frequently occur during debugging. Here are the various forms
8164 @item @var{expression}
8165 Any expression valid in the current working language.
8167 @item @var{funcaddr}
8168 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
8169 C@t{++}, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
8170 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
8171 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
8172 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
8173 (although the Pascal form also works).
8175 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
8176 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
8178 @item '@var{filename}':@var{funcaddr}
8179 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
8180 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
8181 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
8182 functions with identical names in different source files.
8186 @section Editing Source Files
8187 @cindex editing source files
8190 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
8191 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
8192 The editing program of your choice
8193 is invoked with the current line set to
8194 the active line in the program.
8195 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
8196 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
8199 @item edit @var{location}
8200 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
8201 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
8202 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
8203 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
8204 command most commonly used:
8207 @item edit @var{number}
8208 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
8210 @item edit @var{function}
8211 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
8216 @subsection Choosing your Editor
8217 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
8219 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
8220 following command-line syntax:
8222 ex +@var{number} file
8224 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
8225 the file where to start editing.}.
8226 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
8227 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
8228 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
8229 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
8235 or in the @code{csh} shell,
8237 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
8242 @section Searching Source Files
8243 @cindex searching source files
8245 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
8250 @kindex forward-search
8251 @kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
8252 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
8253 @itemx search @var{regexp}
8254 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
8255 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
8256 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
8257 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
8260 @kindex reverse-search
8261 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
8262 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
8263 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
8264 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
8265 this command as @code{rev}.
8269 @section Specifying Source Directories
8272 @cindex directories for source files
8273 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
8274 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
8275 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
8276 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
8277 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
8278 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
8279 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
8281 For example, suppose an executable references the file
8282 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
8283 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
8284 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
8285 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
8286 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
8287 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
8288 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
8289 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
8290 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
8291 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
8293 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
8294 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
8295 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
8296 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
8297 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
8298 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
8300 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
8303 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
8304 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
8305 each line is in the file.
8309 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
8310 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
8311 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
8313 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
8314 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
8316 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
8317 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
8318 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
8319 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
8320 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
8321 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
8322 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
8323 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
8324 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
8325 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
8326 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
8327 name to look up the sources.
8329 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
8330 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
8331 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
8332 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
8333 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
8334 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
8335 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
8336 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
8338 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
8339 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
8340 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
8341 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
8342 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
8343 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
8344 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
8346 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
8347 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
8348 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
8349 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
8350 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
8351 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
8352 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
8355 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
8356 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
8357 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
8358 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
8359 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
8360 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
8361 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
8363 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
8364 @cindex default source path substitution
8365 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
8366 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
8367 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
8368 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
8369 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
8370 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
8371 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
8372 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
8373 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
8377 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
8378 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
8379 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
8380 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
8381 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
8382 part of absolute file names) or
8383 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
8384 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
8388 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
8389 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
8390 @cindex compilation directory
8391 @cindex current directory
8392 @cindex working directory
8393 @cindex directory, current
8394 @cindex directory, compilation
8395 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
8396 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
8397 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
8398 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
8399 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
8400 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
8403 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
8405 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
8406 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
8408 @item set directories @var{path-list}
8409 @kindex set directories
8410 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
8411 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
8413 @item show directories
8414 @kindex show directories
8415 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
8417 @anchor{set substitute-path}
8418 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
8419 @kindex set substitute-path
8420 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
8421 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
8422 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
8424 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
8425 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
8428 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /foo/bar /mnt/cross
8432 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/foo/bar} with
8433 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
8434 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
8436 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
8437 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
8438 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
8441 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
8444 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
8445 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
8449 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
8450 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
8451 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
8452 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
8455 @item unset substitute-path [path]
8456 @kindex unset substitute-path
8457 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
8458 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
8459 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
8461 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
8463 @item show substitute-path [path]
8464 @kindex show substitute-path
8465 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
8466 which would rewrite that path, if any.
8468 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
8473 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
8474 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
8475 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
8479 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
8482 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
8483 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
8484 directories in one command.
8488 @section Source and Machine Code
8489 @cindex source line and its code address
8491 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
8492 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
8493 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
8494 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
8495 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
8496 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
8497 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
8503 @itemx info line @var{location}
8504 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
8505 source line @var{location}. You can specify source lines in any of
8506 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}. With no @var{location}
8507 information about the current source line is printed.
8510 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
8511 the object code for the first line of function
8512 @code{m4_changequote}:
8515 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
8516 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c <m4_changequote> and \
8517 ends at 0x6350 <m4_changequote+4>.
8521 @cindex code address and its source line
8522 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
8523 @var{location}) what source line covers a particular address:
8525 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
8526 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 <m4_changequote+152> and \
8527 ends at 0x6404 <m4_changequote+184>.
8530 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
8531 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
8532 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
8533 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
8534 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
8535 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
8536 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
8537 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8540 @cindex info line, repeated calls
8541 After @code{info line}, using @code{info line} again without
8542 specifying a location will display information about the next source
8547 @cindex assembly instructions
8548 @cindex instructions, assembly
8549 @cindex machine instructions
8550 @cindex listing machine instructions
8552 @itemx disassemble /m
8553 @itemx disassemble /s
8554 @itemx disassemble /r
8555 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
8556 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
8557 the @code{/m} or @code{/s} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex
8558 as well as in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r} modifier.
8559 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
8560 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
8561 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
8562 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
8563 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
8564 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
8567 @item @var{start},@var{end}
8568 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
8569 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
8570 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
8571 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
8575 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
8576 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
8578 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
8579 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
8581 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
8582 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
8585 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
8586 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
8589 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
8590 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
8591 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
8592 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
8593 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
8594 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
8595 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
8596 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
8597 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
8598 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
8599 End of assembler dump.
8602 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86
8603 with @code{/m} or @code{/s}, when the program is stopped just after
8604 function prologue in a non-optimized function with no inline code.
8607 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
8608 Dump of assembler code for function main:
8610 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
8611 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
8612 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
8613 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
8614 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
8616 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
8617 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
8618 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
8622 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
8623 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
8624 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
8626 End of assembler dump.
8629 The @code{/m} option is deprecated as its output is not useful when
8630 there is either inlined code or re-ordered code.
8631 The @code{/s} option is the preferred choice.
8632 Here is an example for AMD x86-64 showing the difference between
8633 @code{/m} output and @code{/s} output.
8634 This example has one inline function defined in a header file,
8635 and the code is compiled with @samp{-O2} optimization.
8636 Note how the @code{/m} output is missing the disassembly of
8637 several instructions that are present in the @code{/s} output.
8667 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
8668 Dump of assembler code for function main:
8672 0x0000000000400400 <+0>: mov 0x200c2e(%rip),%eax # 0x601034 <y>
8673 0x0000000000400417 <+23>: mov %eax,0x200c13(%rip) # 0x601030 <x>
8677 0x000000000040041d <+29>: xor %eax,%eax
8678 0x000000000040041f <+31>: retq
8679 0x0000000000400420 <+32>: add %eax,%eax
8680 0x0000000000400422 <+34>: jmp 0x400417 <main+23>
8682 End of assembler dump.
8683 (@value{GDBP}) disas /s main
8684 Dump of assembler code for function main:
8688 0x0000000000400400 <+0>: mov 0x200c2e(%rip),%eax # 0x601034 <y>
8692 0x0000000000400406 <+6>: test %eax,%eax
8693 0x0000000000400408 <+8>: js 0x400420 <main+32>
8698 0x000000000040040a <+10>: lea 0xa(%rax),%edx
8699 0x000000000040040d <+13>: test %eax,%eax
8700 0x000000000040040f <+15>: mov $0x1,%eax
8701 0x0000000000400414 <+20>: cmovne %edx,%eax
8705 0x0000000000400417 <+23>: mov %eax,0x200c13(%rip) # 0x601030 <x>
8709 0x000000000040041d <+29>: xor %eax,%eax
8710 0x000000000040041f <+31>: retq
8714 0x0000000000400420 <+32>: add %eax,%eax
8715 0x0000000000400422 <+34>: jmp 0x400417 <main+23>
8716 End of assembler dump.
8719 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
8722 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
8723 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
8724 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
8725 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
8726 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
8727 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
8728 End of assembler dump.
8731 Addresses cannot be specified as a location (@pxref{Specify Location}).
8732 So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
8733 in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
8734 and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
8736 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
8737 mnemonics or other syntax.
8739 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
8740 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
8741 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
8742 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
8743 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
8746 @kindex set disassembler-options
8747 @cindex disassembler options
8748 @item set disassembler-options @var{option1}[,@var{option2}@dots{}]
8749 This command controls the passing of target specific information to
8750 the disassembler. For a list of valid options, please refer to the
8751 @code{-M}/@code{--disassembler-options} section of the @samp{objdump}
8752 manual and/or the output of @kbd{objdump --help}
8753 (@pxref{objdump,,objdump,binutils.info,The GNU Binary Utilities}).
8754 The default value is the empty string.
8756 If it is necessary to specify more than one disassembler option, then
8757 multiple options can be placed together into a comma separated list.
8758 Currently this command is only supported on targets ARM, PowerPC
8761 @kindex show disassembler-options
8762 @item show disassembler-options
8763 Show the current setting of the disassembler options.
8767 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
8768 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
8769 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
8770 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
8771 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
8772 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
8774 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
8775 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
8776 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
8777 assemblers for x86-based targets.
8779 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
8780 @item show disassembly-flavor
8781 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
8785 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
8786 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
8787 @item set disassemble-next-line
8788 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
8789 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
8790 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
8791 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
8792 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
8793 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
8794 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
8795 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
8796 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
8797 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
8798 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
8799 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
8800 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
8801 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
8802 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
8808 @chapter Examining Data
8810 @cindex printing data
8811 @cindex examining data
8814 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
8815 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
8816 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
8817 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
8818 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
8819 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
8822 @item print @var{expr}
8823 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
8824 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
8825 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
8826 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
8827 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
8831 @itemx print /@var{f}
8832 @cindex reprint the last value
8833 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
8834 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
8835 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
8838 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
8839 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
8840 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8842 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
8843 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
8844 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
8847 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
8849 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
8850 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
8851 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
8852 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
8853 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
8854 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
8855 embedded in the higher level data types.
8858 @item explore @var{arg}
8859 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
8860 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
8863 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
8864 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
8874 struct ComplexStruct
8876 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
8882 followed by variable declarations as
8885 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
8886 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
8890 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
8891 @code{explore} command as follows.
8895 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
8896 the following fields:
8898 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
8899 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
8901 Enter the field number of choice:
8905 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
8906 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
8907 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
8908 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
8909 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
8910 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
8911 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
8912 field will be explored as if it were an array.
8915 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
8916 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
8917 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
8918 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
8920 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
8921 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
8923 Press enter to return to parent value:
8927 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
8928 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
8929 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
8933 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
8934 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
8936 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
8940 Press enter to return to parent value:
8943 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
8944 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
8945 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
8946 level data structure).
8948 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
8949 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
8950 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
8951 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
8952 same example as above, your can explore the type
8953 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
8954 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
8957 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
8961 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
8962 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
8963 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
8966 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
8967 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
8968 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
8969 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
8970 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
8973 @item explore value @var{expr}
8974 @cindex explore value
8975 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
8976 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
8977 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
8978 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
8979 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
8981 @item explore type @var{arg}
8982 @cindex explore type
8983 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
8984 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
8985 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
8986 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
8987 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
8988 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
8989 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
8990 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
8991 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
8995 * Expressions:: Expressions
8996 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8997 * Variables:: Program variables
8998 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8999 * Output Formats:: Output formats
9000 * Memory:: Examining memory
9001 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
9002 * Print Settings:: Print settings
9003 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
9004 * Value History:: Value history
9005 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
9006 * Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
9007 * Registers:: Registers
9008 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
9009 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
9010 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
9011 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
9012 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
9013 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
9014 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
9015 character set than GDB does
9016 * Caching Target Data:: Data caching for targets
9017 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
9018 * Value Sizes:: Managing memory allocated for values
9022 @section Expressions
9025 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
9026 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
9027 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
9028 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
9029 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
9030 you compiled your program to include this information; see
9033 @cindex arrays in expressions
9034 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
9035 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
9036 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
9037 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
9038 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
9039 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
9041 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
9042 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
9043 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
9046 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
9047 expressions regardless of your programming language.
9049 @cindex casts, in expressions
9050 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
9051 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
9052 at that address in memory.
9053 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
9055 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
9056 to programming languages:
9060 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
9061 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
9064 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
9065 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
9067 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
9068 @cindex type casting memory
9069 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
9070 @cindex casts, to view memory
9071 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
9072 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
9073 memory. The address @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is
9074 an integer or pointer (but parentheses are required around binary
9075 operators, just as in a cast). This construct is allowed regardless
9076 of what kind of data is normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
9079 @node Ambiguous Expressions
9080 @section Ambiguous Expressions
9081 @cindex ambiguous expressions
9083 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
9084 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
9085 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
9086 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
9087 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
9088 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
9089 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
9091 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
9092 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
9093 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
9094 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
9095 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
9098 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
9099 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
9100 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
9101 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
9102 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
9103 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
9104 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
9107 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
9108 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
9109 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
9111 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
9114 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
9117 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
9118 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
9119 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
9120 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
9121 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
9122 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
9124 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
9125 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
9126 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
9127 Multiple breakpoints were set.
9128 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
9135 @kindex set multiple-symbols
9136 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
9137 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
9139 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
9142 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
9143 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
9144 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
9145 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
9146 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
9147 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
9148 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
9149 in the use of the menu.
9151 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
9152 when an ambiguity is detected.
9154 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
9155 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
9157 @kindex show multiple-symbols
9158 @item show multiple-symbols
9159 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
9163 @section Program Variables
9165 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
9168 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
9169 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
9173 global (or file-static)
9180 visible according to the scope rules of the
9181 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
9184 @noindent This means that in the function
9199 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
9200 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
9201 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
9202 the block where @code{b} is declared.
9204 @cindex variable name conflict
9205 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
9206 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
9207 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
9208 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
9209 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
9210 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
9211 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
9213 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
9215 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
9216 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
9219 @var{file}::@var{variable}
9220 @var{function}::@var{variable}
9224 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
9225 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
9226 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
9227 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
9230 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
9233 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
9234 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
9235 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
9236 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
9237 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
9246 process (a); /* Stop here */
9257 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
9258 here is what you might see
9259 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
9264 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
9267 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
9270 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
9274 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
9275 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very
9276 similar use of the same notation in C@t{++}. When they are in
9277 conflict, the C@t{++} meaning takes precedence; however, this can be
9278 overridden by quoting the file or function name with single quotes.
9280 For example, suppose the program is stopped in a method of a class
9281 that has a field named @code{includefile}, and there is also an
9282 include file named @file{includefile} that defines a variable,
9286 (@value{GDBP}) p includefile
9288 (@value{GDBP}) p includefile::some_global
9289 A syntax error in expression, near `'.
9290 (@value{GDBP}) p 'includefile'::some_global
9294 @cindex wrong values
9295 @cindex variable values, wrong
9296 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
9297 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
9299 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
9300 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
9301 scope, and just before exit.
9303 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
9304 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
9305 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
9306 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
9307 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
9308 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
9309 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
9310 variable definitions may be gone.
9312 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
9313 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
9316 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
9317 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
9318 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
9319 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
9320 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
9321 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
9322 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
9325 No symbol "foo" in current context.
9328 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
9329 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
9330 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
9331 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
9332 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
9334 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
9335 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
9336 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
9337 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
9339 @cindex no debug info variables
9340 If you try to examine or use the value of a (global) variable for
9341 which @value{GDBN} has no type information, e.g., because the program
9342 includes no debug information, @value{GDBN} displays an error message.
9343 @xref{Symbols, unknown type}, for more about unknown types. If you
9344 cast the variable to its declared type, @value{GDBN} gets the
9345 variable's value using the cast-to type as the variable's type. For
9346 example, in a C program:
9349 (@value{GDBP}) p var
9350 'var' has unknown type; cast it to its declared type
9351 (@value{GDBP}) p (float) var
9355 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
9356 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
9357 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
9358 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
9359 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
9362 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
9368 (gdb) print i@@entry
9372 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
9373 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
9374 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
9375 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
9376 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
9381 signed char var1[] = "A";
9384 You get during debugging
9389 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
9393 @section Artificial Arrays
9395 @cindex artificial array
9397 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
9398 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
9399 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
9400 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
9403 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
9404 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
9405 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
9406 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
9407 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
9408 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
9409 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
9410 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
9411 example. If a program says
9414 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
9418 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
9424 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
9425 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
9426 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
9427 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
9428 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
9430 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
9431 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
9432 The value need not be in memory:
9434 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
9435 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
9438 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
9439 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
9440 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
9442 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
9443 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
9446 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
9447 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
9448 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
9449 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
9450 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
9451 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
9452 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
9453 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
9454 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
9455 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
9465 @node Output Formats
9466 @section Output Formats
9468 @cindex formatted output
9469 @cindex output formats
9470 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
9471 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
9472 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
9473 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
9474 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
9476 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
9477 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
9478 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
9479 letters supported are:
9483 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
9487 Print as integer in signed decimal.
9490 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
9493 Print as integer in octal.
9496 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
9497 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
9498 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
9499 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
9502 @cindex unknown address, locating
9503 @cindex locate address
9504 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
9505 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
9506 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
9509 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
9510 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
9514 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
9515 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
9518 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
9519 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
9520 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
9521 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
9523 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
9524 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
9525 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
9529 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
9530 using typical floating point syntax.
9533 @cindex printing strings
9534 @cindex printing byte arrays
9535 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
9536 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
9537 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
9540 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
9541 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
9542 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
9546 Like @samp{x} formatting, the value is treated as an integer and
9547 printed as hexadecimal, but leading zeros are printed to pad the value
9548 to the size of the integer type.
9551 @cindex raw printing
9552 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
9553 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
9554 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
9555 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
9556 pretty-printer which might exist.
9559 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
9566 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
9567 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
9569 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
9570 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
9571 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
9574 @section Examining Memory
9576 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
9577 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
9579 @cindex examining memory
9581 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
9582 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
9585 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
9588 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
9589 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
9590 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
9591 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
9592 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
9595 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
9596 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
9597 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display. If a negative
9598 number is specified, memory is examined backward from @var{addr}.
9599 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
9602 @item @var{f}, the display format
9603 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
9604 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
9605 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
9606 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
9607 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
9609 @item @var{u}, the unit size
9610 The unit size is any of
9616 Halfwords (two bytes).
9618 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
9620 Giant words (eight bytes).
9623 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
9624 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
9625 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
9626 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
9627 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
9628 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
9629 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
9630 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
9631 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
9632 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
9635 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
9636 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
9637 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
9638 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
9639 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
9640 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
9641 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
9642 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
9643 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
9644 a value from memory).
9647 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
9648 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
9649 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
9650 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
9651 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
9653 You can also specify a negative repeat count to examine memory backward
9654 from the given address. For example, @samp{x/-3uh 0x54320} prints three
9655 halfwords (@code{h}) at @code{0x54314}, @code{0x54328}, and @code{0x5431c}.
9657 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
9658 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
9659 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
9660 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
9661 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
9663 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
9664 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
9665 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
9666 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
9667 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
9668 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
9669 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
9670 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
9671 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
9673 If a negative repeat count is specified for the formats @samp{s} or @samp{i},
9674 the command displays null-terminated strings or instructions before the given
9675 address as many as the absolute value of the given number. For the @samp{i}
9676 format, we use line number information in the debug info to accurately locate
9677 instruction boundaries while disassembling backward. If line info is not
9678 available, the command stops examining memory with an error message.
9680 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
9681 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
9682 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
9683 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
9684 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
9685 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
9686 for successive uses of @code{x}.
9688 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
9689 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
9692 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
9693 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
9694 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
9695 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
9696 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
9697 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
9700 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
9701 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
9702 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
9703 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
9704 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
9705 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
9706 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
9707 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
9708 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
9710 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
9711 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
9712 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
9714 @anchor{addressable memory unit}
9715 @cindex addressable memory unit
9716 Most targets have an addressable memory unit size of 8 bits. This means
9717 that to each memory address are associated 8 bits of data. Some
9718 targets, however, have other addressable memory unit sizes.
9719 Within @value{GDBN} and this document, the term
9720 @dfn{addressable memory unit} (or @dfn{memory unit} for short) is used
9721 when explicitly referring to a chunk of data of that size. The word
9722 @dfn{byte} is used to refer to a chunk of data of 8 bits, regardless of
9723 the addressable memory unit size of the target. For most systems,
9724 addressable memory unit is a synonym of byte.
9726 @cindex remote memory comparison
9727 @cindex target memory comparison
9728 @cindex verify remote memory image
9729 @cindex verify target memory image
9730 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
9731 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image
9732 in the remote machine's memory against the executable file you
9733 downloaded to the target. Or, on any target, you may want to check
9734 whether the program has corrupted its own read-only sections. The
9735 @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such situations.
9738 @kindex compare-sections
9739 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{|}@code{-r}@r{]}
9740 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
9741 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
9742 the target machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
9743 arguments, compares all loadable sections. With an argument of
9744 @code{-r}, compares all loadable read-only sections.
9746 Note: for remote targets, this command can be accelerated if the
9747 target supports computing the CRC checksum of a block of memory
9748 (@pxref{qCRC packet}).
9752 @section Automatic Display
9753 @cindex automatic display
9754 @cindex display of expressions
9756 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
9757 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
9758 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
9759 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
9760 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
9761 The automatic display looks like this:
9765 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
9769 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
9770 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
9771 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
9772 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
9773 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
9774 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
9778 @item display @var{expr}
9779 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
9780 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
9782 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
9784 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
9785 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
9786 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
9787 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
9788 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
9790 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
9791 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
9792 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
9793 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
9794 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
9797 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
9798 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
9799 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9802 @kindex delete display
9804 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
9805 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9806 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
9807 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
9808 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
9809 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
9810 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9812 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
9813 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
9815 @kindex disable display
9816 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9817 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
9818 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
9819 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
9820 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
9821 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
9822 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
9823 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9825 @kindex enable display
9826 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9827 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
9828 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
9829 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
9830 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
9831 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
9832 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9835 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
9836 done when your program stops.
9838 @kindex info display
9840 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
9841 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
9842 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
9843 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
9844 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
9847 @cindex display disabled out of scope
9848 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
9849 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
9850 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
9851 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
9852 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
9853 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
9854 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
9855 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
9856 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
9857 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
9859 @node Print Settings
9860 @section Print Settings
9862 @cindex format options
9863 @cindex print settings
9864 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
9865 and symbols are printed.
9868 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
9872 @item set print address
9873 @itemx set print address on
9874 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
9875 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
9876 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
9877 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
9878 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
9879 @code{set print address on}:
9884 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
9886 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
9890 @item set print address off
9891 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
9892 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
9896 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
9898 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
9899 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
9903 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
9904 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
9905 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
9906 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
9909 @item show print address
9910 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
9913 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
9914 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
9915 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
9916 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
9917 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
9918 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
9919 it prints a symbolic address:
9922 @item set print symbol-filename on
9923 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
9924 @cindex symbol, source file and line
9925 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
9926 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
9928 @item set print symbol-filename off
9929 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
9932 @item show print symbol-filename
9933 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
9934 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
9937 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
9938 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
9939 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
9941 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
9942 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
9945 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
9946 @itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
9947 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
9948 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
9949 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
9950 @var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
9951 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
9952 it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
9954 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
9955 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
9959 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
9960 @cindex pointer, finding referent
9961 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
9962 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
9963 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
9964 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
9965 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
9966 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
9969 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
9970 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
9971 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
9975 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
9976 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
9977 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
9980 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
9981 @samp{set print symbol on}:
9984 @item set print symbol on
9985 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
9988 @item set print symbol off
9989 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
9990 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
9991 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
9993 @item show print symbol
9994 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
9998 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
10001 @item set print array
10002 @itemx set print array on
10003 @cindex pretty print arrays
10004 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
10005 but uses more space. The default is off.
10007 @item set print array off
10008 Return to compressed format for arrays.
10010 @item show print array
10011 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
10014 @cindex print array indexes
10015 @item set print array-indexes
10016 @itemx set print array-indexes on
10017 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
10018 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
10019 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
10021 @item set print array-indexes off
10022 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
10024 @item show print array-indexes
10025 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
10028 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
10029 @itemx set print elements unlimited
10030 @cindex number of array elements to print
10031 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
10032 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
10033 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
10034 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
10035 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
10036 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
10037 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
10038 that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
10040 @item show print elements
10041 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
10042 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
10044 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
10045 @kindex set print frame-arguments
10046 @cindex printing frame argument values
10047 @cindex print all frame argument values
10048 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
10049 @cindex do not print frame argument values
10050 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
10051 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
10056 The values of all arguments are printed.
10059 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
10060 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
10061 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
10062 only scalar arguments are shown:
10065 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
10070 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
10071 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
10074 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
10079 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
10080 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
10081 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
10082 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
10083 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
10084 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
10085 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
10086 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
10087 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
10088 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
10090 @item show print frame-arguments
10091 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
10093 @item set print raw frame-arguments on
10094 Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
10096 @item set print raw frame-arguments off
10097 Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
10098 for the value (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
10099 otherwise print the value in raw form.
10100 This is the default.
10102 @item show print raw frame-arguments
10103 Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
10105 @anchor{set print entry-values}
10106 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
10107 @kindex set print entry-values
10108 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
10109 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
10110 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
10111 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
10112 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
10114 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
10115 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
10116 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
10119 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
10120 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_call_site} tags. With
10121 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
10124 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
10128 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
10132 #0 different (val=6)
10133 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
10135 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
10139 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
10140 values are never printed.
10142 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
10143 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
10144 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
10145 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
10146 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
10150 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
10151 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
10152 value for such parameter.
10154 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
10155 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
10156 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
10158 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
10162 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
10163 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
10167 #0 different (val=6)
10168 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
10170 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
10174 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
10175 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
10178 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
10179 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
10180 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
10181 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
10182 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
10186 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
10187 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
10188 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
10189 values are known and identical, print the shortened
10190 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
10192 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
10193 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
10194 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
10196 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
10200 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
10201 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
10202 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
10203 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
10205 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
10206 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
10207 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
10209 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
10213 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
10214 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
10216 @item show print entry-values
10217 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
10220 @item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
10221 @itemx set print repeats unlimited
10222 @cindex repeated array elements
10223 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
10224 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
10225 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
10226 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
10227 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
10228 themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
10229 cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
10232 @item show print repeats
10233 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
10236 @item set print null-stop
10237 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
10238 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
10239 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
10240 contain only short strings.
10241 The default is off.
10243 @item show print null-stop
10244 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
10245 @sc{null} character.
10247 @item set print pretty on
10248 @cindex print structures in indented form
10249 @cindex indentation in structure display
10250 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
10251 per line, like this:
10266 @item set print pretty off
10267 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
10271 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
10272 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
10277 This is the default format.
10279 @item show print pretty
10280 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
10282 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
10283 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
10284 @cindex octal escapes in strings
10285 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
10286 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
10287 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
10288 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
10289 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
10291 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
10292 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
10293 international character sets, and is the default.
10295 @item show print sevenbit-strings
10296 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
10298 @item set print union on
10299 @cindex unions in structures, printing
10300 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
10301 and other unions. This is the default setting.
10303 @item set print union off
10304 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
10305 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
10308 @item show print union
10309 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
10310 structures and other unions.
10312 For example, given the declarations
10315 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
10316 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
10317 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
10328 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
10332 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
10335 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
10339 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
10342 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
10346 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
10352 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
10355 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
10356 @item set print demangle
10357 @itemx set print demangle on
10358 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
10359 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
10360 linkage. The default is on.
10362 @item show print demangle
10363 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
10365 @item set print asm-demangle
10366 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
10367 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
10368 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
10369 The default is off.
10371 @item show print asm-demangle
10372 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
10375 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
10376 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
10377 @kindex set demangle-style
10378 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
10379 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
10380 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
10384 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
10385 This is the default.
10388 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
10391 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
10394 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
10397 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
10398 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
10399 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
10400 require further enhancement to permit that.
10403 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
10405 @item show demangle-style
10406 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
10408 @item set print object
10409 @itemx set print object on
10410 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
10411 @cindex display derived types
10412 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
10413 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
10414 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
10415 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
10416 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
10417 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
10418 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
10420 @item set print object off
10421 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
10422 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
10424 @item show print object
10425 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
10427 @item set print static-members
10428 @itemx set print static-members on
10429 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
10430 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
10432 @item set print static-members off
10433 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
10435 @item show print static-members
10436 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
10438 @item set print pascal_static-members
10439 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
10440 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
10441 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
10442 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
10444 @item set print pascal_static-members off
10445 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
10447 @item show print pascal_static-members
10448 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
10450 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
10451 @item set print vtbl
10452 @itemx set print vtbl on
10453 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
10454 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
10455 @cindex VTBL display
10456 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
10457 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
10458 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
10460 @item set print vtbl off
10461 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
10463 @item show print vtbl
10464 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
10467 @node Pretty Printing
10468 @section Pretty Printing
10470 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
10471 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
10472 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
10475 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
10476 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
10477 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
10480 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
10481 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
10483 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
10484 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
10485 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
10487 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
10488 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
10489 pretty-printers with their names.
10490 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
10491 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
10492 Each such subprinter has its own name.
10493 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
10495 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
10496 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
10497 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
10498 do anything special.
10500 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
10504 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
10508 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
10509 when debugging that program.
10510 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
10513 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
10514 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
10515 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
10518 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
10519 pretty-printers are selected,
10521 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
10524 @node Pretty-Printer Example
10525 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
10527 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
10530 (@value{GDBP}) print s
10532 static npos = 4294967295,
10534 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
10535 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
10536 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
10538 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
10539 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
10540 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
10545 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
10548 (@value{GDBP}) print s
10552 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
10553 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
10554 @cindex pretty-printer commands
10557 @kindex info pretty-printer
10558 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
10559 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
10560 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
10562 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
10563 whose pretty-printers to list.
10564 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
10565 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
10566 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
10567 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
10568 looks up a printer from these three objects.
10570 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
10573 @kindex disable pretty-printer
10574 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
10575 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
10576 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
10578 @kindex enable pretty-printer
10579 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
10580 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
10585 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
10586 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
10587 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
10588 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
10591 (gdb) info pretty-printer
10598 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
10603 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
10605 2 of 3 printers enabled
10606 (gdb) info pretty-printer
10613 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
10615 1 of 3 printers enabled
10616 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
10623 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
10625 0 of 3 printers enabled
10626 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
10635 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
10636 as can each individual subprinter.
10638 @node Value History
10639 @section Value History
10641 @cindex value history
10642 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
10643 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
10644 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
10645 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
10646 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
10647 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
10648 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
10653 @cindex history number
10654 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
10655 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
10656 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
10657 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
10660 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
10661 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
10662 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
10663 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
10664 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
10665 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
10666 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
10668 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
10669 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
10675 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
10676 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
10683 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
10684 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
10686 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
10687 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
10695 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
10696 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
10699 @kindex show values
10701 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
10702 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
10703 values} does not change the history.
10705 @item show values @var{n}
10706 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
10708 @item show values +
10709 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
10710 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
10713 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
10714 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
10716 @node Convenience Vars
10717 @section Convenience Variables
10719 @cindex convenience variables
10720 @cindex user-defined variables
10721 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
10722 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
10723 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
10724 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
10725 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
10727 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
10728 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
10729 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
10730 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
10731 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
10733 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
10734 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
10738 set $foo = *object_ptr
10742 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
10745 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
10746 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
10747 value with another assignment at any time.
10749 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
10750 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
10751 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
10752 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
10755 @kindex show convenience
10756 @cindex show all user variables and functions
10757 @item show convenience
10758 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
10759 as well as a list of the convenience functions.
10760 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
10762 @kindex init-if-undefined
10763 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
10764 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
10765 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
10766 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
10767 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
10768 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
10769 override default values used in a command script.
10771 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
10772 any side-effects do not occur.
10775 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
10776 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
10777 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
10781 print bar[$i++]->contents
10785 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
10787 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
10788 values likely to be useful.
10791 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
10793 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
10794 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
10795 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
10796 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
10797 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
10798 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
10799 to the type of @code{$__}.
10801 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
10803 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
10804 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
10805 to match the format in which the data was printed.
10808 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
10809 When the program being debugged terminates normally, @value{GDBN}
10810 automatically sets this variable to the exit code of the program, and
10811 resets @code{$_exitsignal} to @code{void}.
10814 @vindex $_exitsignal@r{, convenience variable}
10815 When the program being debugged dies due to an uncaught signal,
10816 @value{GDBN} automatically sets this variable to that signal's number,
10817 and resets @code{$_exitcode} to @code{void}.
10819 To distinguish between whether the program being debugged has exited
10820 (i.e., @code{$_exitcode} is not @code{void}) or signalled (i.e.,
10821 @code{$_exitsignal} is not @code{void}), the convenience function
10822 @code{$_isvoid} can be used (@pxref{Convenience Funs,, Convenience
10823 Functions}). For example, considering the following source code:
10826 #include <signal.h>
10829 main (int argc, char *argv[])
10836 A valid way of telling whether the program being debugged has exited
10837 or signalled would be:
10840 (@value{GDBP}) define has_exited_or_signalled
10841 Type commands for definition of ``has_exited_or_signalled''.
10842 End with a line saying just ``end''.
10843 >if $_isvoid ($_exitsignal)
10844 >echo The program has exited\n
10846 >echo The program has signalled\n
10852 Program terminated with signal SIGALRM, Alarm clock.
10853 The program no longer exists.
10854 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
10855 The program has signalled
10858 As can be seen, @value{GDBN} correctly informs that the program being
10859 debugged has signalled, since it calls @code{raise} and raises a
10860 @code{SIGALRM} signal. If the program being debugged had not called
10861 @code{raise}, then @value{GDBN} would report a normal exit:
10864 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
10865 The program has exited
10869 The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
10870 thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
10873 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
10874 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
10877 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
10878 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
10879 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
10880 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
10881 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
10884 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
10885 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
10886 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
10887 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
10888 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
10891 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
10892 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
10893 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
10894 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
10895 @xref{General Query Packets}.
10896 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
10899 The number of the current inferior. @xref{Inferiors and
10900 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}.
10903 The thread number of the current thread. @xref{thread numbers}.
10906 The global number of the current thread. @xref{global thread numbers}.
10910 @node Convenience Funs
10911 @section Convenience Functions
10913 @cindex convenience functions
10914 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
10915 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
10916 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
10917 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
10920 These functions do not require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
10921 @code{Python} support, which means that they are always available.
10925 @item $_isvoid (@var{expr})
10926 @findex $_isvoid@r{, convenience function}
10927 Return one if the expression @var{expr} is @code{void}. Otherwise it
10930 A @code{void} expression is an expression where the type of the result
10931 is @code{void}. For example, you can examine a convenience variable
10932 (see @ref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}) to check whether
10936 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
10938 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
10941 Starting program: ./a.out
10942 [Inferior 1 (process 29572) exited normally]
10943 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
10945 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
10949 In the example above, we used @code{$_isvoid} to check whether
10950 @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void} before and after the execution of the
10951 program being debugged. Before the execution there is no exit code to
10952 be examined, therefore @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void}. After the
10953 execution the program being debugged returned zero, therefore
10954 @code{$_exitcode} is zero, which means that it is not @code{void}
10957 The @code{void} expression can also be a call of a function from the
10958 program being debugged. For example, given the following function:
10967 The result of calling it inside @value{GDBN} is @code{void}:
10970 (@value{GDBP}) print foo ()
10972 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid (foo ())
10974 (@value{GDBP}) set $v = foo ()
10975 (@value{GDBP}) print $v
10977 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($v)
10983 These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
10984 @code{Python} support.
10988 @item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
10989 @findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
10990 Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
10991 @var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
10992 Otherwise it returns zero.
10994 @item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
10995 @findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
10996 Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
10997 @var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10998 The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
10999 regular expression support.
11001 @item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
11002 @findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
11003 Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
11004 Otherwise it returns zero.
11006 @item $_strlen(@var{str})
11007 @findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
11008 Returns the length of string @var{str}.
11010 @item $_caller_is(@var{name}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
11011 @findex $_caller_is@r{, convenience function}
11012 Returns one if the calling function's name is equal to @var{name}.
11013 Otherwise it returns zero.
11015 If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
11016 it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
11024 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:21
11025 #1 0x00000000004005a0 in middle_func ()
11026 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:27
11027 #2 0x00000000004005ab in top_func ()
11028 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:33
11029 #3 0x00000000004005b6 in main ()
11030 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:39
11031 (gdb) print $_caller_is ("middle_func")
11033 (gdb) print $_caller_is ("top_func", 2)
11037 @item $_caller_matches(@var{regexp}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
11038 @findex $_caller_matches@r{, convenience function}
11039 Returns one if the calling function's name matches the regular expression
11040 @var{regexp}. Otherwise it returns zero.
11042 If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
11043 it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
11046 @item $_any_caller_is(@var{name}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
11047 @findex $_any_caller_is@r{, convenience function}
11048 Returns one if any calling function's name is equal to @var{name}.
11049 Otherwise it returns zero.
11051 If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
11052 it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
11055 This function differs from @code{$_caller_is} in that this function
11056 checks all stack frames from the immediate caller to the frame specified
11057 by @var{number_of_frames}, whereas @code{$_caller_is} only checks the
11058 frame specified by @var{number_of_frames}.
11060 @item $_any_caller_matches(@var{regexp}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
11061 @findex $_any_caller_matches@r{, convenience function}
11062 Returns one if any calling function's name matches the regular expression
11063 @var{regexp}. Otherwise it returns zero.
11065 If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
11066 it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
11069 This function differs from @code{$_caller_matches} in that this function
11070 checks all stack frames from the immediate caller to the frame specified
11071 by @var{number_of_frames}, whereas @code{$_caller_matches} only checks the
11072 frame specified by @var{number_of_frames}.
11074 @item $_as_string(@var{value})
11075 @findex $_as_string@r{, convenience function}
11076 Return the string representation of @var{value}.
11078 This function is useful to obtain the textual label (enumerator) of an
11079 enumeration value. For example, assuming the variable @var{node} is of
11080 an enumerated type:
11083 (gdb) printf "Visiting node of type %s\n", $_as_string(node)
11084 Visiting node of type NODE_INTEGER
11089 @value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
11090 convenience functions.
11093 @item help function
11094 @kindex help function
11095 @cindex show all convenience functions
11096 Print a list of all convenience functions.
11103 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
11104 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
11105 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
11109 @kindex info registers
11110 @item info registers
11111 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
11112 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
11114 @kindex info all-registers
11115 @cindex floating point registers
11116 @item info all-registers
11117 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
11118 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
11120 @item info registers @var{reggroup} @dots{}
11121 Print the name and value of the registers in each of the specified
11122 @var{reggroup}s. The @var{reggoup} can be any of those returned by
11123 @code{maint print reggroups} (@pxref{Maintenance Commands}).
11125 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
11126 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
11127 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
11128 the selected stack frame. The @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
11129 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
11132 @anchor{standard registers}
11133 @cindex stack pointer register
11134 @cindex program counter register
11135 @cindex process status register
11136 @cindex frame pointer register
11137 @cindex standard registers
11138 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
11139 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
11140 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
11141 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
11142 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
11143 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
11144 register that contains the processor status. For example,
11145 you could print the program counter in hex with
11152 or print the instruction to be executed next with
11159 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
11160 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
11161 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
11162 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
11163 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
11164 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
11165 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
11171 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
11172 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
11173 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
11174 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
11175 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
11176 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
11177 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
11179 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
11180 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
11181 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
11182 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
11183 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
11184 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
11185 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
11187 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
11188 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
11189 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
11190 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
11191 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
11192 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
11193 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
11194 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
11195 prints the data in both formats.
11197 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
11198 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
11199 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
11200 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
11201 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
11202 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
11203 registers in @code{struct} notation:
11206 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
11208 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
11209 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
11210 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
11211 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
11212 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
11213 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
11214 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
11219 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
11220 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
11221 value to a @code{struct} member:
11224 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
11227 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
11228 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
11229 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
11230 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
11231 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
11232 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
11234 @cindex caller-saved registers
11235 @cindex call-clobbered registers
11236 @cindex volatile registers
11237 @cindex <not saved> values
11238 Usually ABIs reserve some registers as not needed to be saved by the
11239 callee (a.k.a.: ``caller-saved'', ``call-clobbered'' or ``volatile''
11240 registers). It may therefore not be possible for @value{GDBN} to know
11241 the value a register had before the call (in other words, in the outer
11242 frame), if the register value has since been changed by the callee.
11243 @value{GDBN} tries to deduce where the inner frame saved
11244 (``callee-saved'') registers, from the debug info, unwind info, or the
11245 machine code generated by your compiler. If some register is not
11246 saved, and @value{GDBN} knows the register is ``caller-saved'' (via
11247 its own knowledge of the ABI, or because the debug/unwind info
11248 explicitly says the register's value is undefined), @value{GDBN}
11249 displays @w{@samp{<not saved>}} as the register's value. With targets
11250 that @value{GDBN} has no knowledge of the register saving convention,
11251 if a register was not saved by the callee, then its value and location
11252 in the outer frame are assumed to be the same of the inner frame.
11253 This is usually harmless, because if the register is call-clobbered,
11254 the caller either does not care what is in the register after the
11255 call, or has code to restore the value that it does care about. Note,
11256 however, that if you change such a register in the outer frame, you
11257 may also be affecting the inner frame. Also, the more ``outer'' the
11258 frame is you're looking at, the more likely a call-clobbered
11259 register's value is to be wrong, in the sense that it doesn't actually
11260 represent the value the register had just before the call.
11262 @node Floating Point Hardware
11263 @section Floating Point Hardware
11264 @cindex floating point
11266 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
11267 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
11272 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
11273 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
11274 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
11275 the ARM and x86 machines.
11279 @section Vector Unit
11280 @cindex vector unit
11282 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
11283 more information about the status of the vector unit.
11286 @kindex info vector
11288 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
11289 layout vary depending on the hardware.
11292 @node OS Information
11293 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
11294 @cindex OS information
11296 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
11297 you debug your program.
11299 @cindex auxiliary vector
11300 @cindex vector, auxiliary
11301 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
11302 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
11303 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
11304 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
11305 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
11306 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
11307 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
11308 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
11309 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
11310 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
11311 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
11316 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
11317 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
11318 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
11319 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
11320 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
11321 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
11322 an unrecognized tag.
11325 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
11326 information and show it to you. The types of information available
11327 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
11328 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
11329 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
11330 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
11331 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
11335 @item info os @var{infotype}
11337 Display OS information of the requested type.
11339 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
11341 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
11343 @kindex info os cpus
11345 Display the list of all CPUs/cores. For each CPU/core, @value{GDBN} prints
11346 the available fields from /proc/cpuinfo. For each supported architecture
11347 different fields are available. Two common entries are processor which gives
11348 CPU number and bogomips; a system constant that is calculated during
11349 kernel initialization.
11351 @kindex info os files
11353 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
11354 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
11355 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
11356 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
11358 @kindex info os modules
11360 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
11361 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
11362 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
11363 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
11366 @kindex info os msg
11368 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
11369 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
11370 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
11371 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
11372 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
11373 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
11374 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
11375 the message queue was last changed.
11377 @kindex info os processes
11379 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
11380 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
11381 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
11382 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
11383 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
11384 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
11386 @kindex info os procgroups
11388 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
11389 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
11390 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
11391 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
11392 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
11393 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
11394 and the process group leader is listed first.
11396 @kindex info os semaphores
11398 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
11399 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
11400 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
11401 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
11402 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
11404 @kindex info os shm
11406 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
11407 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
11408 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
11409 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
11410 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
11411 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
11412 attached to, detach from, and changed.
11414 @kindex info os sockets
11416 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
11417 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
11418 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
11419 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
11422 @kindex info os threads
11424 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
11425 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
11426 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
11427 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
11428 process is not listed.
11432 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
11433 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
11434 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
11435 types, this command will report an error.
11438 @node Memory Region Attributes
11439 @section Memory Region Attributes
11440 @cindex memory region attributes
11442 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
11443 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
11444 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
11445 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
11446 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
11447 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
11448 user can override the fetched regions.
11450 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
11451 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
11452 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
11453 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
11456 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
11457 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
11461 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
11462 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
11463 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
11464 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
11465 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
11466 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
11469 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
11470 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
11473 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
11474 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
11475 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
11477 @kindex disable mem
11478 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
11479 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
11480 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
11481 It may be enabled again later.
11484 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
11485 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
11489 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
11493 @item Memory Region Number
11494 @item Enabled or Disabled.
11495 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
11496 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
11499 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
11502 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
11505 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
11510 @subsection Attributes
11512 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
11513 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
11514 write accesses to a memory region.
11516 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
11517 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
11518 etc.@: from accessing memory.
11522 Memory is read only.
11524 Memory is write only.
11526 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
11529 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
11530 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
11531 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
11532 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
11533 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
11537 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
11539 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
11541 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
11543 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
11546 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
11547 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
11548 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
11549 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
11553 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
11554 @c @item swbreak (default)
11557 @subsubsection Data Cache
11558 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
11559 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
11560 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
11561 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
11566 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
11568 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
11571 @subsection Memory Access Checking
11572 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
11573 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
11574 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
11575 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
11578 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
11579 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
11580 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
11581 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
11582 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
11583 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
11584 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
11585 The default value is @code{on}.
11586 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
11587 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
11588 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
11592 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
11593 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
11594 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
11598 @c @item noverify (default)
11601 @node Dump/Restore Files
11602 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
11603 @cindex dump/restore files
11604 @cindex append data to a file
11605 @cindex dump data to a file
11606 @cindex restore data from a file
11608 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
11609 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
11610 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
11611 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
11612 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex,
11613 Tektronix Hex, or Verilog Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only
11614 append to binary files, and cannot read from Verilog Hex files.
11619 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
11620 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
11621 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
11622 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
11624 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
11631 Motorola S-record format.
11633 Tektronix Hex format.
11635 Verilog Hex format.
11638 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
11639 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
11640 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
11644 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
11645 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
11646 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
11647 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
11648 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
11651 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
11652 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
11653 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
11654 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
11655 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
11657 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
11658 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
11659 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
11660 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
11661 from that location.
11663 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
11664 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
11665 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
11666 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
11670 @node Core File Generation
11671 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
11672 @cindex dump core from inferior
11674 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
11675 image of a running process and its process status (register values
11676 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
11677 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
11678 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
11679 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
11680 the post-mortem debugging mode.
11682 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
11683 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
11684 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
11688 @kindex generate-core-file
11689 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
11690 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
11691 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
11692 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
11693 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
11694 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
11696 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
11697 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
11699 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, this command can take into account the value of the
11700 file @file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} when generating the core
11701 dump (@pxref{set use-coredump-filter}), and by default honors the
11702 @code{VM_DONTDUMP} flag for mappings where it is present in the file
11703 @file{/proc/@var{pid}/smaps} (@pxref{set dump-excluded-mappings}).
11705 @kindex set use-coredump-filter
11706 @anchor{set use-coredump-filter}
11707 @item set use-coredump-filter on
11708 @itemx set use-coredump-filter off
11709 Enable or disable the use of the file
11710 @file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} when generating core dump
11711 files. This file is used by the Linux kernel to decide what types of
11712 memory mappings will be dumped or ignored when generating a core dump
11713 file. @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process.
11715 To make use of this feature, you have to write in the
11716 @file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} file a value, in hexadecimal,
11717 which is a bit mask representing the memory mapping types. If a bit
11718 is set in the bit mask, then the memory mappings of the corresponding
11719 types will be dumped; otherwise, they will be ignored. This
11720 configuration is inherited by child processes. For more information
11721 about the bits that can be set in the
11722 @file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} file, please refer to the
11723 manpage of @code{core(5)}.
11725 By default, this option is @code{on}. If this option is turned
11726 @code{off}, @value{GDBN} does not read the @file{coredump_filter} file
11727 and instead uses the same default value as the Linux kernel in order
11728 to decide which pages will be dumped in the core dump file. This
11729 value is currently @code{0x33}, which means that bits @code{0}
11730 (anonymous private mappings), @code{1} (anonymous shared mappings),
11731 @code{4} (ELF headers) and @code{5} (private huge pages) are active.
11732 This will cause these memory mappings to be dumped automatically.
11734 @kindex set dump-excluded-mappings
11735 @anchor{set dump-excluded-mappings}
11736 @item set dump-excluded-mappings on
11737 @itemx set dump-excluded-mappings off
11738 If @code{on} is specified, @value{GDBN} will dump memory mappings
11739 marked with the @code{VM_DONTDUMP} flag. This flag is represented in
11740 the file @file{/proc/@var{pid}/smaps} with the acronym @code{dd}.
11742 The default value is @code{off}.
11745 @node Character Sets
11746 @section Character Sets
11747 @cindex character sets
11749 @cindex translating between character sets
11750 @cindex host character set
11751 @cindex target character set
11753 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
11754 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
11755 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
11756 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
11757 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
11758 @dfn{target character set}.
11760 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
11761 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
11762 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
11763 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
11764 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
11765 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
11766 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
11767 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
11768 character and string literals in expressions.
11770 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
11771 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
11772 target-charset} command, described below.
11774 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
11778 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
11779 @kindex set target-charset
11780 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
11781 list of supported target character sets, type
11782 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
11784 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
11785 @kindex set host-charset
11786 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
11788 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
11789 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
11790 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
11791 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
11792 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
11794 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
11795 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
11796 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
11798 @item set charset @var{charset}
11799 @kindex set charset
11800 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
11801 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
11802 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
11803 for both host and target.
11806 @kindex show charset
11807 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
11809 @item show host-charset
11810 @kindex show host-charset
11811 Show the name of the current host character set.
11813 @item show target-charset
11814 @kindex show target-charset
11815 Show the name of the current target character set.
11817 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
11818 @kindex set target-wide-charset
11819 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
11820 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
11821 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
11822 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
11824 @item show target-wide-charset
11825 @kindex show target-wide-charset
11826 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
11829 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
11830 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
11831 @file{charset-test.c}:
11837 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
11838 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
11839 char ibm1047_hello[]
11840 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
11841 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
11845 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11849 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
11850 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
11851 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
11853 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
11856 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
11857 $ gdb -nw charset-test
11858 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
11859 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11864 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
11865 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
11869 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
11870 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
11874 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
11875 initial character set:
11877 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
11878 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
11879 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
11883 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
11884 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
11885 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
11886 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
11887 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
11890 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
11891 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
11892 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
11897 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
11898 literals you use in expressions:
11901 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
11906 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
11909 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
11910 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
11911 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
11914 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
11915 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
11916 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
11921 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
11922 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
11925 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
11926 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
11927 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
11930 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
11931 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
11932 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
11933 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
11934 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
11937 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
11938 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
11939 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
11940 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
11941 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
11942 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
11943 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
11945 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
11946 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
11947 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
11952 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
11953 string literals you use in expressions:
11956 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
11961 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
11964 @node Caching Target Data
11965 @section Caching Data of Targets
11966 @cindex caching data of targets
11968 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a target.
11969 Each cache is associated with the address space of the inferior.
11970 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}, about inferior and address space.
11971 Such caching generally improves performance in remote debugging
11972 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), because it reduces the overhead of the
11973 remote protocol by bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks.
11974 Unfortunately, simply caching everything would lead to incorrect results,
11975 since @value{GDBN} does not necessarily know anything about volatile
11976 values, memory-mapped I/O addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode
11977 (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command
11979 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
11980 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
11981 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
11982 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
11983 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.} or
11984 in the code segment.
11985 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
11986 cacheable; @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
11989 @kindex set remotecache
11990 @item set remotecache on
11991 @itemx set remotecache off
11992 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
11995 @kindex show remotecache
11996 @item show remotecache
11997 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
11999 @kindex set stack-cache
12000 @item set stack-cache on
12001 @itemx set stack-cache off
12002 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{on}, use
12003 caching. By default, this option is @code{on}.
12005 @kindex show stack-cache
12006 @item show stack-cache
12007 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
12009 @kindex set code-cache
12010 @item set code-cache on
12011 @itemx set code-cache off
12012 Enable or disable caching of code segment accesses. When @code{on},
12013 use caching. By default, this option is @code{on}. This improves
12014 performance of disassembly in remote debugging.
12016 @kindex show code-cache
12017 @item show code-cache
12018 Show the current state of target memory cache for code segment
12021 @kindex info dcache
12022 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
12023 Print the information about the performance of data cache of the
12024 current inferior's address space. The information displayed
12025 includes the dcache width and depth, and for each cache line, its
12026 number, address, and how many times it was referenced. This
12027 command is useful for debugging the data cache operation.
12029 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
12032 @item set dcache size @var{size}
12033 @cindex dcache size
12034 @kindex set dcache size
12035 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
12037 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
12038 @cindex dcache line-size
12039 @kindex set dcache line-size
12040 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
12041 Must be a power of 2.
12043 @item show dcache size
12044 @kindex show dcache size
12045 Show maximum number of dcache entries. @xref{Caching Target Data, info dcache}.
12047 @item show dcache line-size
12048 @kindex show dcache line-size
12049 Show default size of dcache lines.
12053 @node Searching Memory
12054 @section Search Memory
12055 @cindex searching memory
12057 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
12058 @code{find} command.
12062 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
12063 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
12064 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
12065 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
12066 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
12069 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
12070 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
12073 @item @var{s}, search query size
12074 The size of each search query value.
12080 halfwords (two bytes)
12084 giant words (eight bytes)
12087 All values are interpreted in the current language.
12088 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
12089 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
12090 The null terminator can be removed from searching by using casts,
12091 e.g.: @samp{@{char[5]@}"hello"}.
12093 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
12094 value's type in the current language.
12095 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
12096 pattern as a mixture of types.
12097 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
12098 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
12099 which is typically four bytes.
12101 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
12102 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
12105 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
12107 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
12108 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
12110 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
12111 number of matches found.
12113 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
12115 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
12117 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
12123 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
12124 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
12125 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
12126 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
12127 printf ("%s\n", hello);
12132 you get during debugging:
12135 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
12136 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
12138 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
12139 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
12140 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
12142 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), @{char[5]@}"hello"
12143 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
12144 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
12146 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
12147 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
12149 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
12150 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
12152 (gdb) print $numfound
12155 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
12159 @section Value Sizes
12161 Whenever @value{GDBN} prints a value memory will be allocated within
12162 @value{GDBN} to hold the contents of the value. It is possible in
12163 some languages with dynamic typing systems, that an invalid program
12164 may indicate a value that is incorrectly large, this in turn may cause
12165 @value{GDBN} to try and allocate an overly large ammount of memory.
12168 @kindex set max-value-size
12169 @item set max-value-size @var{bytes}
12170 @itemx set max-value-size unlimited
12171 Set the maximum size of memory that @value{GDBN} will allocate for the
12172 contents of a value to @var{bytes}, trying to display a value that
12173 requires more memory than that will result in an error.
12175 Setting this variable does not effect values that have already been
12176 allocated within @value{GDBN}, only future allocations.
12178 There's a minimum size that @code{max-value-size} can be set to in
12179 order that @value{GDBN} can still operate correctly, this minimum is
12180 currently 16 bytes.
12182 The limit applies to the results of some subexpressions as well as to
12183 complete expressions. For example, an expression denoting a simple
12184 integer component, such as @code{x.y.z}, may fail if the size of
12185 @var{x.y} is dynamic and exceeds @var{bytes}. On the other hand,
12186 @value{GDBN} is sometimes clever; the expression @code{A[i]}, where
12187 @var{A} is an array variable with non-constant size, will generally
12188 succeed regardless of the bounds on @var{A}, as long as the component
12189 size is less than @var{bytes}.
12191 The default value of @code{max-value-size} is currently 64k.
12193 @kindex show max-value-size
12194 @item show max-value-size
12195 Show the maximum size of memory, in bytes, that @value{GDBN} will
12196 allocate for the contents of a value.
12199 @node Optimized Code
12200 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
12201 @cindex optimized code, debugging
12202 @cindex debugging optimized code
12204 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
12205 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
12206 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
12207 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
12208 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
12209 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
12210 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
12212 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
12213 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
12214 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
12215 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
12217 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
12218 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
12219 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
12220 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
12221 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
12222 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
12224 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
12225 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
12226 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
12227 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
12228 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
12231 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
12232 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
12235 @node Inline Functions
12236 @section Inline Functions
12237 @cindex inline functions, debugging
12239 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
12240 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
12241 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
12242 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
12243 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
12244 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
12245 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
12246 @code{info frame} command.
12248 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
12249 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
12250 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
12251 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
12252 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
12253 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
12254 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
12255 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
12256 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
12257 local variables in the caller.
12259 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
12260 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
12261 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
12262 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
12263 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
12264 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
12265 instructions are executed.
12267 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
12268 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
12269 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
12270 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
12272 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
12273 function calls are the same as normal calls:
12277 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
12278 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
12279 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
12280 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
12281 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
12282 or inside the inlined function instead.
12285 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
12286 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
12287 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
12288 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
12292 @node Tail Call Frames
12293 @section Tail Call Frames
12294 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
12296 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
12297 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
12298 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
12299 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
12300 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
12302 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
12303 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
12304 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
12305 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
12306 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
12307 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
12308 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
12310 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
12311 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_call_site} tags. With
12312 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
12315 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
12316 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
12320 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
12322 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
12323 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
12324 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
12325 source language c++.
12326 Arglist at unknown address.
12327 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
12330 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
12331 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
12332 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
12333 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
12334 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
12335 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
12338 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
12339 @item set debug entry-values
12340 @kindex set debug entry-values
12341 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
12342 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
12343 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
12344 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
12347 @item show debug entry-values
12348 @kindex show debug entry-values
12349 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
12350 values at function entry and tail calls.
12353 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
12354 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
12355 reference by variable @code{x}):
12358 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
12359 void (*x) (void) = c;
12360 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
12361 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
12362 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
12364 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_entry_value resolving cannot find
12365 DW_TAG_call_site 0x40039a in main
12367 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
12370 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
12373 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
12377 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
12378 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
12379 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
12380 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
12381 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
12382 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
12383 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
12384 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
12386 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
12387 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
12388 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
12391 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
12392 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
12395 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
12396 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
12398 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
12399 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
12400 @set ARROW @click{}
12401 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
12402 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
12404 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
12406 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
12407 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
12410 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
12411 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
12412 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
12414 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
12415 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
12416 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
12417 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
12418 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
12419 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
12421 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
12422 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
12423 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
12424 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
12427 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
12432 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
12433 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
12434 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
12435 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
12436 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
12437 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
12440 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
12441 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_entry_value resolving has found
12442 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
12443 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
12444 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
12447 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
12448 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
12449 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
12450 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
12451 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
12454 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
12456 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
12457 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
12458 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
12459 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
12460 where it was defined.
12462 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
12463 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
12464 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
12465 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
12467 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
12468 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
12469 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
12470 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
12471 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
12472 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
12475 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
12476 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
12477 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
12481 @kindex macro expand
12482 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
12483 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
12484 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
12485 @item macro expand @var{expression}
12486 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
12487 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
12488 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
12489 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
12490 it can be any string of tokens.
12493 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
12494 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
12495 @cindex expand macro once
12496 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
12497 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
12498 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
12499 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
12500 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
12501 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
12502 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
12503 can be any string of tokens.
12506 @cindex macro definition, showing
12507 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
12508 @cindex macros, from debug info
12509 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
12510 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
12511 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
12512 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
12513 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
12514 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
12516 @kindex info macros
12517 @item info macros @var{location}
12518 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
12519 by @var{location}, and describe the source location or compiler
12520 command-line where those definitions were established.
12522 @kindex macro define
12523 @cindex user-defined macros
12524 @cindex defining macros interactively
12525 @cindex macros, user-defined
12526 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
12527 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
12528 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
12529 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
12530 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
12531 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
12532 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
12535 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
12536 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
12537 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
12538 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
12539 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
12541 @kindex macro undef
12542 @item macro undef @var{macro}
12543 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
12544 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
12545 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
12546 in the program being debugged.
12550 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
12553 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
12554 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
12555 show our source files:
12560 #include "sample.h"
12563 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
12568 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
12570 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
12572 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
12579 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
12580 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
12581 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
12582 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
12583 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
12584 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
12588 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
12592 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
12596 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
12597 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
12598 GDB is free software, @dots{}
12602 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
12603 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
12604 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
12607 (@value{GDBP}) list main
12610 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
12615 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
12617 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
12618 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
12619 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
12620 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
12621 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
12622 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
12623 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
12625 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
12626 expands to: (42 + 1)
12627 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
12628 expands to: once (M + 1)
12632 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
12633 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
12634 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
12635 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
12637 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
12638 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
12641 (@value{GDBP}) break main
12642 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
12644 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
12646 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
12647 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
12651 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
12654 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
12655 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
12657 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
12658 expands to: 28 < 42
12659 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
12664 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
12665 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
12666 thereof) in force at each point:
12669 (@value{GDBP}) next
12671 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
12672 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
12673 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
12674 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
12675 (@value{GDBP}) next
12677 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
12678 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
12679 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
12681 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
12682 expands to: 1729 < 42
12683 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
12688 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
12689 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
12690 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
12691 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
12694 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
12695 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
12702 @chapter Tracepoints
12703 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
12704 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
12706 @cindex tracepoints
12707 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
12708 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
12709 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
12710 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
12711 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
12712 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
12713 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
12715 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
12716 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
12717 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
12718 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
12719 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
12720 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
12721 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
12722 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
12723 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
12724 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
12725 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
12727 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
12728 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
12729 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
12730 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
12731 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
12732 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
12735 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
12736 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
12737 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
12739 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
12742 * Set Tracepoints::
12743 * Analyze Collected Data::
12744 * Tracepoint Variables::
12748 @node Set Tracepoints
12749 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
12751 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
12752 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
12753 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
12754 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
12755 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
12756 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
12757 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
12759 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
12760 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
12761 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
12762 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
12763 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
12764 tracepoint was hit.
12766 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
12767 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
12768 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
12771 @cindex fast tracepoints
12772 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
12773 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
12774 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
12776 @cindex static tracepoints
12777 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
12778 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
12779 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
12780 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
12781 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
12782 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
12783 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
12784 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
12785 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
12786 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
12787 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
12788 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
12789 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
12790 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
12791 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
12792 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
12793 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
12794 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
12795 static tracepoint marker.
12797 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
12798 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
12800 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
12801 conditions and actions.
12804 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
12805 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
12806 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
12807 * Tracepoint Conditions::
12808 * Trace State Variables::
12809 * Tracepoint Actions::
12810 * Listing Tracepoints::
12811 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
12812 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
12813 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
12816 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
12817 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
12820 @cindex set tracepoint
12822 @item trace @var{location}
12823 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
12824 Its argument @var{location} can be any valid location.
12825 @xref{Specify Location}. The @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint,
12826 which is a point in the target program where the debugger will briefly stop,
12827 collect some data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint
12828 or changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
12829 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
12831 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
12832 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
12833 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
12834 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
12835 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
12836 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
12837 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
12838 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
12839 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
12840 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
12841 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
12842 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
12844 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
12847 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
12849 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
12851 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
12853 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
12855 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
12859 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
12861 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
12862 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
12863 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
12864 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
12865 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
12866 information on tracepoint conditions.
12868 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
12869 @cindex set fast tracepoint
12870 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
12872 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
12873 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
12874 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
12875 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
12876 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
12877 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
12880 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
12883 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
12884 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
12885 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
12886 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
12887 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
12888 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
12889 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
12890 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
12893 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
12897 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
12898 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
12900 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
12901 @cindex set static tracepoint
12902 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
12903 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
12905 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
12906 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
12907 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
12908 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
12909 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
12911 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
12912 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
12913 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
12914 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
12915 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
12916 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
12917 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
12918 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
12919 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
12925 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
12930 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
12931 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
12934 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12935 Cnt Enb ID Address What
12936 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
12942 so you may probe the marker above with:
12945 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
12948 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
12949 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
12950 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
12951 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
12952 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
12953 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
12954 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
12955 the @samp{Data:} field.
12957 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
12958 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
12959 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
12962 @cindex last tracepoint number
12963 @cindex recent tracepoint number
12964 @cindex tracepoint number
12965 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
12966 of the most recently set tracepoint.
12968 @kindex delete tracepoint
12969 @cindex tracepoint deletion
12970 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12971 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
12972 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
12973 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
12978 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
12980 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
12984 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
12987 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
12988 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
12990 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
12993 @kindex disable tracepoint
12994 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12995 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
12996 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
12997 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
12998 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
12999 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
13000 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
13001 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
13002 next trace experiment.
13004 @kindex enable tracepoint
13005 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
13006 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
13007 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
13008 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
13009 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
13010 next time a trace experiment is run.
13013 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
13014 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
13018 @cindex tracepoint pass count
13019 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
13020 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
13021 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
13022 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
13023 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
13024 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
13025 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
13026 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
13032 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
13033 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
13035 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
13036 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
13037 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
13038 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
13039 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
13040 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
13041 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
13042 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
13043 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
13044 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
13045 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
13049 @node Tracepoint Conditions
13050 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
13051 @cindex conditional tracepoints
13052 @cindex tracepoint conditions
13054 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
13055 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
13056 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
13057 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
13058 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
13059 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
13062 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
13063 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
13064 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
13065 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
13066 just as with breakpoints.
13068 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
13069 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
13070 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
13071 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
13072 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
13073 accesses, and so forth.
13075 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
13076 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
13077 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
13078 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
13079 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
13080 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
13084 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
13087 @node Trace State Variables
13088 @subsection Trace State Variables
13089 @cindex trace state variables
13091 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
13092 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
13093 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
13094 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
13095 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
13098 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
13099 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
13100 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
13101 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
13103 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
13104 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
13105 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
13106 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
13107 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
13108 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
13109 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
13110 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
13111 variable with the same name.
13115 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
13117 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
13118 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
13119 @var{expression}. The @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
13120 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
13121 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
13122 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
13123 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
13124 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
13125 value. The default initial value is 0.
13127 @item info tvariables
13128 @kindex info tvariables
13129 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
13130 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
13133 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
13134 @kindex delete tvariable
13135 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
13140 @node Tracepoint Actions
13141 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
13145 @cindex tracepoint actions
13146 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
13147 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
13148 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
13149 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
13150 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
13151 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
13152 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
13153 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
13154 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
13155 @code{while-stepping}.
13157 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
13158 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
13159 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
13161 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
13162 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
13163 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
13166 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
13168 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
13170 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
13173 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
13174 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
13175 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
13176 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
13177 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
13178 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
13179 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
13180 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
13183 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
13184 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
13185 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
13188 > while-stepping 12
13189 > collect $pc, arr[i]
13194 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
13195 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
13196 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
13197 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
13198 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
13199 special arguments are supported:
13203 Collect all registers.
13206 Collect all function arguments.
13209 Collect all local variables.
13212 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
13215 @emph{Note:} The return address location can not always be reliably
13216 determined up front, and the wrong address / registers may end up
13217 collected instead. On some architectures the reliability is higher
13218 for tracepoints at function entry, while on others it's the opposite.
13219 When this happens, backtracing will stop because the return address is
13220 found unavailable (unless another collect rule happened to match it).
13223 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
13224 tracepoint is located.
13225 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
13227 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
13228 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
13229 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
13230 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
13233 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
13234 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
13235 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
13236 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
13237 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
13238 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
13239 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
13240 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
13241 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
13244 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
13245 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
13248 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
13249 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
13250 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
13254 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
13255 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
13256 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
13258 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
13259 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
13260 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
13261 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
13262 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
13263 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
13264 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
13267 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
13268 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
13270 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
13271 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
13272 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
13273 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
13274 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
13275 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
13276 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
13279 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
13280 @item while-stepping @var{n}
13281 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
13282 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
13283 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
13284 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
13287 > while-stepping 12
13288 > collect $regs, myglobal
13294 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
13295 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
13296 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
13299 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
13300 @kindex set default-collect
13301 @cindex default collection action
13302 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
13303 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
13304 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
13305 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
13306 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
13307 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
13309 @item show default-collect
13310 @kindex show default-collect
13311 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
13316 @node Listing Tracepoints
13317 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
13320 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
13321 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
13322 @cindex information about tracepoints
13323 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
13324 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
13325 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
13326 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
13327 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
13328 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
13330 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
13335 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
13338 the state about installed on target of each location
13342 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
13343 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
13344 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
13346 collect globfoo, $regs
13351 2 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
13353 2.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
13354 installed on target
13355 2.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
13356 installed on target
13357 2.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
13358 3 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
13359 not installed on target
13364 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
13367 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
13368 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
13371 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
13372 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
13373 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
13374 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
13377 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
13381 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
13384 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
13385 @item Enabled or Disabled
13386 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
13387 that are not enabled.
13389 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
13391 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
13392 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
13393 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
13394 will be left blank.
13398 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
13402 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
13403 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
13405 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
13406 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
13410 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
13411 Cnt ID Enb Address What
13412 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
13413 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
13414 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
13415 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
13421 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
13422 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
13425 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
13426 @cindex start a new trace experiment
13427 @cindex collected data discarded
13429 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
13430 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
13431 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
13432 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
13433 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
13434 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
13435 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
13436 information, and so forth.
13438 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
13439 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
13441 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
13442 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
13443 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
13444 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
13445 needs to be stopped quickly.
13447 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
13448 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
13449 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
13452 @cindex status of trace data collection
13453 @cindex trace experiment, status of
13455 This command displays the status of the current trace data
13459 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
13462 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
13463 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
13464 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
13465 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
13466 > while-stepping 11
13470 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
13471 [time passes @dots{}]
13472 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
13475 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
13476 @cindex disconnected tracing
13477 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
13478 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
13479 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
13480 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
13481 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
13482 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
13483 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
13484 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
13487 @item set disconnected-tracing on
13488 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
13489 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
13490 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
13491 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
13492 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
13493 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
13494 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
13496 @item show disconnected-tracing
13497 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
13498 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
13502 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
13503 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
13504 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
13505 it will continue after reconnection.
13507 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
13508 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
13509 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
13510 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
13511 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
13512 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
13513 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
13514 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
13515 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
13516 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
13518 @cindex circular trace buffer
13519 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
13520 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
13521 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
13522 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
13523 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
13524 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
13525 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
13526 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
13527 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
13528 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
13532 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
13533 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
13534 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
13535 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
13536 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
13537 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
13538 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
13540 @item show circular-trace-buffer
13541 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
13542 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
13543 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
13544 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
13545 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
13550 @item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
13551 @itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
13552 @kindex set trace-buffer-size
13553 Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
13554 targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
13555 the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
13556 @code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
13557 likes. This is also the default.
13559 @item show trace-buffer-size
13560 @kindex show trace-buffer-size
13561 Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
13562 will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
13563 and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
13564 target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
13565 not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
13566 to get a report of the actual buffer size.
13570 @item set trace-user @var{text}
13571 @kindex set trace-user
13573 @item show trace-user
13574 @kindex show trace-user
13576 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
13577 @kindex set trace-notes
13578 Set the trace run's notes.
13580 @item show trace-notes
13581 @kindex show trace-notes
13582 Show the trace run's notes.
13584 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
13585 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
13586 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
13587 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
13588 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
13590 @item show trace-stop-notes
13591 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
13592 Show the trace run's stop notes.
13596 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
13597 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
13599 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
13600 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
13601 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
13602 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
13603 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
13604 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
13605 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
13606 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
13612 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
13613 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
13614 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
13615 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
13616 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
13617 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
13618 cannot be collected either.
13621 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
13622 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
13623 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
13624 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
13625 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
13626 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
13627 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
13628 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
13629 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
13630 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
13633 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
13634 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
13635 in a misleading way.
13638 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
13639 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
13640 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
13641 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
13642 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
13643 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
13644 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
13648 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
13649 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
13650 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
13651 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
13652 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
13653 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
13654 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
13655 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
13656 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
13657 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
13661 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
13662 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
13663 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
13664 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
13665 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
13666 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
13667 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
13672 @node Analyze Collected Data
13673 @section Using the Collected Data
13675 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
13676 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
13677 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
13678 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
13679 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
13680 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
13681 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
13682 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
13683 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
13684 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
13685 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
13686 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
13687 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
13688 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
13689 the buffer will fail.
13692 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
13693 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
13694 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
13698 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
13701 @cindex select trace snapshot
13702 @cindex find trace snapshot
13703 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
13704 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
13705 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
13706 snapshot is selected.
13708 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
13712 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
13713 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
13716 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
13719 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
13722 No argument means find the next trace snapshot or find the first
13723 one if no trace snapshot is selected.
13726 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
13727 retracing earlier steps.
13729 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
13730 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
13731 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
13732 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
13733 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
13735 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
13736 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
13737 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
13738 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
13739 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
13741 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
13742 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
13743 addresses (exclusive).
13745 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
13746 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
13747 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
13749 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
13750 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
13751 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
13752 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
13753 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
13754 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
13755 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
13756 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
13759 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
13760 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
13761 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
13762 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
13763 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
13764 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
13765 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
13766 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
13767 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
13768 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
13769 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
13770 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
13771 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
13772 tracepoint as the current one.
13774 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
13775 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
13776 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
13777 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
13778 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
13781 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
13782 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
13783 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
13784 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
13788 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
13789 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
13790 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
13791 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
13792 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
13793 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
13794 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
13795 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
13796 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
13797 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
13798 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
13801 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
13805 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
13806 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
13807 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
13817 @subsection @code{tdump}
13819 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
13820 @cindex tracepoint data, display
13822 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
13823 the current trace snapshot.
13826 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
13827 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
13828 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
13829 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
13832 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
13834 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
13835 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
13837 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
13839 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
13840 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
13841 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
13845 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
13848 d7 0x380035 3670069
13849 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
13850 a1 0x3000668 50333288
13852 a3 0x322000 3284992
13853 a4 0x3000698 50333336
13854 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
13855 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
13856 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
13858 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
13862 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
13869 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
13874 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
13875 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
13876 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
13877 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
13879 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
13880 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
13881 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
13882 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
13883 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
13884 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
13885 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
13886 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
13887 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
13888 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
13890 @node save tracepoints
13891 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
13892 @kindex save tracepoints
13893 @kindex save-tracepoints
13894 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
13896 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
13897 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
13898 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
13899 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
13900 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
13901 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
13903 @node Tracepoint Variables
13904 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
13905 @cindex tracepoint variables
13906 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
13909 @vindex $trace_frame
13910 @item (int) $trace_frame
13911 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
13912 snapshot is selected.
13914 @vindex $tracepoint
13915 @item (int) $tracepoint
13916 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
13918 @vindex $trace_line
13919 @item (int) $trace_line
13920 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
13922 @vindex $trace_file
13923 @item (char []) $trace_file
13924 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
13926 @vindex $trace_func
13927 @item (char []) $trace_func
13928 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
13931 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
13932 use @code{output} instead.
13934 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
13935 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
13936 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
13937 which are managed by the target.
13940 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
13942 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
13943 > output $trace_file
13944 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
13950 @section Using Trace Files
13951 @cindex trace files
13953 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
13954 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
13955 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
13956 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
13957 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
13962 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
13963 @itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
13964 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
13965 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
13966 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
13967 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
13968 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
13969 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
13970 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
13971 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
13972 By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
13973 You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save data in CTF
13974 format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
13975 that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
13976 @indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
13978 @kindex target tfile
13982 @item target tfile @var{filename}
13983 @itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
13984 Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
13985 a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
13986 a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
13987 @code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
13988 the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
13989 Both @var{filename} and @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
13993 (@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
13994 (@value{GDBP}) tfind
13995 Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
13996 39 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
13997 (@value{GDBP}) tdump
13998 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
14002 c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
14003 d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
14011 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
14014 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
14015 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
14016 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
14020 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
14021 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
14022 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
14023 mapped by asking the inferior.
14024 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
14027 @node How Overlays Work
14028 @section How Overlays Work
14029 @cindex mapped overlays
14030 @cindex unmapped overlays
14031 @cindex load address, overlay's
14032 @cindex mapped address
14033 @cindex overlay area
14035 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
14036 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
14037 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
14038 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
14039 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
14041 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
14042 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
14043 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
14044 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
14045 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
14046 largest overlay as well.
14048 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
14049 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
14050 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
14053 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
14054 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
14055 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
14059 Data Instruction Larger
14060 Address Space Address Space Address Space
14061 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
14063 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
14064 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
14065 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
14066 | and heap | | | | | |
14067 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
14068 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
14069 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
14071 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
14072 address | | | | | |
14073 | overlay | <-' | | |
14074 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
14075 | | <---. | | load address
14076 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
14083 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
14087 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
14088 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
14089 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
14090 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
14091 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
14092 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
14093 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
14094 program and the overlay area.
14096 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
14097 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
14098 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
14099 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
14100 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
14101 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
14102 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
14104 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
14105 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
14106 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
14111 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
14112 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
14113 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
14114 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
14117 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
14118 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
14119 your program's performance.
14122 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
14123 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
14124 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
14125 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
14126 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
14127 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
14128 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
14131 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
14132 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
14133 instruction and data spaces.
14137 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
14138 improved in many ways:
14143 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
14144 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
14145 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
14146 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
14147 area in the usual way.
14150 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
14151 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
14154 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
14155 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
14156 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
14157 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
14158 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
14159 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
14160 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
14165 @node Overlay Commands
14166 @section Overlay Commands
14168 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
14169 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
14170 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
14171 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
14172 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
14173 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
14175 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
14176 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
14181 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
14182 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
14183 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
14184 overlay support is disabled.
14186 @item overlay manual
14187 @cindex manual overlay debugging
14188 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
14189 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
14190 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
14191 commands described below.
14193 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
14194 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
14195 @cindex map an overlay
14196 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
14197 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
14198 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
14199 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
14200 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
14201 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
14203 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
14204 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
14205 @cindex unmap an overlay
14206 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
14207 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
14208 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
14209 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
14212 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
14213 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
14214 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
14215 Overlay Debugging}.
14217 @item overlay load-target
14218 @itemx overlay load
14219 @cindex reloading the overlay table
14220 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
14221 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
14222 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
14223 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
14224 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
14226 @item overlay list-overlays
14227 @itemx overlay list
14228 @cindex listing mapped overlays
14229 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
14230 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
14234 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
14235 of the function the address falls in:
14238 (@value{GDBP}) print main
14239 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
14242 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
14243 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
14244 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
14245 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
14248 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
14249 No sections are mapped.
14250 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
14251 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
14254 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
14258 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
14259 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
14260 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
14261 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
14262 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
14265 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
14266 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
14267 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
14268 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
14269 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
14273 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
14274 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
14275 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
14276 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
14278 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
14279 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
14280 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
14281 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
14282 breakpoints properly.
14286 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
14287 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
14288 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
14290 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
14291 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
14292 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
14293 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
14294 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
14295 current state of the overlays.
14297 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
14298 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
14302 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
14303 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
14308 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
14311 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
14312 unsigned long size;
14314 /* The overlay's load address. */
14317 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
14319 unsigned long mapped;
14323 @item @code{_novlys}:
14324 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
14325 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
14329 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
14330 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
14331 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
14332 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
14333 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
14336 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
14337 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
14338 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
14339 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
14340 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
14341 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
14342 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
14343 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
14344 are not being executed.
14346 @node Overlay Sample Program
14347 @section Overlay Sample Program
14348 @cindex overlay example program
14350 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
14351 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
14352 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
14353 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
14354 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
14355 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
14356 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
14358 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
14359 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
14360 suite. The program consists of the following files from
14361 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
14365 The main program file.
14367 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
14372 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
14375 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
14376 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
14379 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
14380 cross-compiler like this:
14383 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
14384 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
14385 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
14386 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
14387 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
14388 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
14389 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
14390 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
14393 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
14394 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
14395 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
14399 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
14402 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
14403 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
14404 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
14405 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
14406 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
14407 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
14409 @cindex working language
14410 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
14411 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
14412 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
14413 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
14414 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
14418 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
14419 * Show:: Displaying the language
14420 * Checks:: Type and range checks
14421 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
14422 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
14426 @section Switching Between Source Languages
14428 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
14429 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
14430 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
14431 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
14432 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
14435 In addition to the working language, every source file that
14436 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
14437 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
14438 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
14439 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
14440 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
14441 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
14442 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
14443 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
14444 Displaying the Language}.
14446 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
14447 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
14448 another language. In that case, make the
14449 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
14450 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
14451 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
14454 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
14455 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
14456 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
14460 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
14462 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
14463 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
14481 C@t{++} source file
14487 Objective-C source file
14491 Fortran source file
14494 Modula-2 source file
14498 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
14499 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
14502 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
14503 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
14506 @subsection Setting the Working Language
14508 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
14509 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
14512 @kindex set language
14513 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
14514 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
14515 a language, such as
14516 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
14517 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
14519 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
14520 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
14521 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
14522 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
14523 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
14524 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
14532 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
14533 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
14534 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
14535 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
14537 @node Automatically
14538 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
14540 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
14541 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
14542 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
14543 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
14544 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
14545 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
14546 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
14547 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
14548 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
14550 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
14551 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
14552 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
14553 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
14554 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
14557 @section Displaying the Language
14559 The following commands help you find out which language is the
14560 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
14563 @item show language
14564 @anchor{show language}
14565 @kindex show language
14566 Display the current working language. This is the
14567 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
14568 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
14571 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
14572 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
14573 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
14574 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
14575 information listed here.
14578 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
14579 Display the source language of this source file.
14580 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
14581 information listed here.
14584 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
14585 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
14586 with a language explicitly:
14589 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
14590 @kindex set extension-language
14591 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
14592 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
14594 @item info extensions
14595 @kindex info extensions
14596 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
14600 @section Type and Range Checking
14602 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
14603 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
14604 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
14605 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
14606 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
14607 by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
14608 errors when your program is running.
14610 By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
14611 rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
14612 the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
14613 into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
14616 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
14617 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
14620 @cindex type checking
14621 @cindex checks, type
14622 @node Type Checking
14623 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
14625 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
14626 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
14627 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
14628 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
14631 int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
14633 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
14636 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
14637 Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
14640 The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
14641 @samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
14643 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
14644 @value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
14645 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
14646 When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
14647 expressions like the second example above.
14649 Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
14650 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
14651 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
14652 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
14653 with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
14654 little sense to evaluate anyway.
14656 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
14658 @kindex set check type
14659 @kindex show check type
14661 @item set check type on
14662 @itemx set check type off
14663 Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
14664 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
14665 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
14667 @item show check type
14668 Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
14669 is enforcing strict type checking rules.
14672 @cindex range checking
14673 @cindex checks, range
14674 @node Range Checking
14675 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
14677 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
14678 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
14679 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
14680 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
14681 not exceed the bounds of the array.
14683 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
14684 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
14685 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
14686 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
14688 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
14689 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
14690 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
14691 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
14692 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
14693 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
14696 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
14699 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
14700 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
14701 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
14703 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
14705 @kindex set check range
14706 @kindex show check range
14708 @item set check range auto
14709 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
14710 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
14713 @item set check range on
14714 @itemx set check range off
14715 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
14716 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
14717 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
14718 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
14720 @item set check range warn
14721 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
14722 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
14723 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
14724 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
14728 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
14729 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
14732 @node Supported Languages
14733 @section Supported Languages
14735 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran,
14736 OpenCL C, Pascal, Rust, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
14737 @c This is false ...
14738 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
14739 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
14740 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
14741 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
14744 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
14745 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
14746 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
14747 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
14748 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
14749 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
14750 language reference or tutorial.
14753 * C:: C and C@t{++}
14756 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
14757 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
14758 * Fortran:: Fortran
14761 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
14766 @subsection C and C@t{++}
14768 @cindex C and C@t{++}
14769 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
14771 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
14772 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
14776 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
14777 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
14778 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
14779 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
14780 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
14781 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
14782 compiler (@code{aCC}).
14785 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
14786 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
14787 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
14788 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
14789 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
14790 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
14791 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
14792 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
14796 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
14798 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
14800 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14801 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14802 often defined on groups of types.
14804 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
14809 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
14810 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
14813 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
14814 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
14817 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
14820 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
14825 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
14826 in order of increasing precedence:
14830 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
14831 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
14832 expression being the last expression evaluated.
14835 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
14836 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
14839 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
14840 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
14841 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence. The operator
14842 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
14843 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
14846 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
14847 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. The argument @var{a}
14848 should be of an integral type.
14851 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
14854 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
14857 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
14860 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
14863 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
14866 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
14867 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
14869 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
14870 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
14871 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
14872 and non-zero for true.
14875 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
14878 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14881 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
14884 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
14885 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
14886 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
14890 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
14891 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
14892 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
14893 operation takes place.
14896 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
14900 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
14902 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
14903 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
14904 to examine the address
14905 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
14909 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
14910 precedence as @code{++}.
14913 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
14917 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
14922 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
14923 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
14924 pointer based on the stored type information.
14925 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
14928 Dereferences of pointers to members.
14931 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
14932 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
14935 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
14938 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
14939 and @code{class} types.
14942 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
14943 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
14947 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
14948 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
14949 predefined meaning.
14952 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
14954 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
14956 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
14961 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
14962 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
14963 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
14964 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
14968 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
14969 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
14970 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
14971 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
14972 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
14973 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
14974 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
14975 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
14976 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
14980 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
14981 integral equivalents.
14984 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
14985 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
14986 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
14987 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
14988 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
14989 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
14990 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
14991 @samp{\n} for newline.
14993 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
14994 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
14995 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
14996 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
14999 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
15000 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
15001 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
15002 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
15005 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
15006 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
15007 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
15010 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
15011 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
15014 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
15015 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
15016 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
15017 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
15020 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
15021 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
15023 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
15024 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
15026 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
15027 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
15028 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
15029 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
15031 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
15032 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
15033 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
15034 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
15035 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
15036 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
15037 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
15038 code. @xref{Compilation}.
15043 @cindex member functions
15045 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
15048 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
15051 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
15052 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
15054 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
15055 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
15056 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
15057 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
15058 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
15060 @cindex call overloaded functions
15061 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
15062 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
15064 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
15065 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
15066 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
15067 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
15068 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
15071 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
15072 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
15073 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
15074 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
15075 number of function arguments.
15077 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
15078 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
15079 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
15081 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
15082 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
15084 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
15087 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
15088 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
15090 @cindex reference declarations
15092 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} lvalue or rvalue
15093 references; you can use them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++}
15094 source---they are automatically dereferenced.
15096 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
15097 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
15098 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
15099 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
15100 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
15103 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
15104 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
15105 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
15106 necessary, for example in an expression like
15107 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
15108 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
15109 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
15112 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
15117 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
15119 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
15121 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
15122 defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
15123 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
15124 selects the working language.
15126 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
15127 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
15128 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
15129 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
15130 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
15131 for further details.
15134 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
15136 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
15138 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
15139 checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
15140 will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
15141 constants to pointers.
15143 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
15144 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
15145 that is not itself an array.
15148 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
15150 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
15151 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
15152 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
15153 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
15155 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
15156 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
15159 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
15160 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
15162 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
15164 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
15165 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
15168 @cindex break in overloaded functions
15169 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
15170 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
15171 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
15172 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
15173 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
15175 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
15176 @item rbreak @var{regex}
15177 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
15178 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
15180 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
15182 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
15184 @itemx catch rethrow
15186 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
15187 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
15189 @cindex inheritance
15190 @item ptype @var{typename}
15191 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
15193 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
15195 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
15196 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
15197 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
15198 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
15199 multiple inheritance is in use.
15201 @cindex C@t{++} demangling
15202 @item demangle @var{name}
15203 Demangle @var{name}.
15204 @xref{Symbols}, for a more complete description of the @code{demangle} command.
15206 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
15207 @item set print demangle
15208 @itemx show print demangle
15209 @itemx set print asm-demangle
15210 @itemx show print asm-demangle
15211 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
15212 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
15213 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
15215 @item set print object
15216 @itemx show print object
15217 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
15218 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
15220 @item set print vtbl
15221 @itemx show print vtbl
15222 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
15223 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
15224 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
15225 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
15227 @kindex set overload-resolution
15228 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
15229 @item set overload-resolution on
15230 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
15231 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
15232 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
15233 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
15234 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
15235 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
15237 @item set overload-resolution off
15238 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
15239 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
15240 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
15241 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
15242 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
15243 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
15246 @kindex show overload-resolution
15247 @item show overload-resolution
15248 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
15250 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
15251 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
15252 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
15253 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
15254 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
15255 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
15256 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
15258 @item @r{Breakpoints in functions with ABI tags}
15260 The GNU C@t{++} compiler introduced the notion of ABI ``tags'', which
15261 correspond to changes in the ABI of a type, function, or variable that
15262 would not otherwise be reflected in a mangled name. See
15263 @url{https://developers.redhat.com/blog/2015/02/05/gcc5-and-the-c11-abi/}
15266 The ABI tags are visible in C@t{++} demangled names. For example, a
15267 function that returns a std::string:
15270 std::string function(int);
15274 when compiled for the C++11 ABI is marked with the @code{cxx11} ABI
15275 tag, and @value{GDBN} displays the symbol like this:
15278 function[abi:cxx11](int)
15281 You can set a breakpoint on such functions simply as if they had no
15285 (gdb) b function(int)
15286 Breakpoint 2 at 0x40060d: file main.cc, line 10.
15287 (gdb) info breakpoints
15288 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
15289 1 breakpoint keep y 0x0040060d in function[abi:cxx11](int)
15293 On the rare occasion you need to disambiguate between different ABI
15294 tags, you can do so by simply including the ABI tag in the function
15298 (@value{GDBP}) b ambiguous[abi:other_tag](int)
15302 @node Decimal Floating Point
15303 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
15304 @cindex decimal floating point format
15306 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
15307 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
15308 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
15309 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
15311 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
15312 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
15313 PowerPC and S/390. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the
15316 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
15317 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
15318 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
15320 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
15321 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
15322 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
15324 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
15325 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
15326 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
15332 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
15333 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
15334 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
15339 @cindex Go (programming language)
15340 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
15341 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
15343 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
15346 @cindex current Go package
15347 @item The current Go package
15348 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
15349 specifying global variables and functions.
15351 For example, given the program:
15355 var myglob = "Shall we?"
15361 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
15365 (gdb) p main.myglob
15368 @cindex builtin Go types
15369 @item Builtin Go types
15370 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
15373 @cindex builtin Go functions
15374 @item Builtin Go functions
15375 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
15376 function and handles it internally.
15378 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
15379 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
15380 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
15381 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
15382 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
15386 @subsection Objective-C
15388 @cindex Objective-C
15389 This section provides information about some commands and command
15390 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
15391 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
15392 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
15395 * Method Names in Commands::
15396 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
15399 @node Method Names in Commands
15400 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
15402 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
15403 names as line specifications:
15405 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
15406 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
15407 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
15408 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
15409 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
15413 @item @code{info line}
15418 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
15421 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
15424 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
15425 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
15426 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
15427 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
15428 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
15429 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
15433 break -[Fruit create]
15436 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
15440 list +[NSText initialize]
15443 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
15444 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
15445 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
15446 is also possible to specify just a method name:
15452 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
15453 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
15454 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
15455 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
15458 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
15459 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
15462 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
15465 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
15466 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
15467 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
15468 @kindex print-object
15469 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
15471 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
15474 print -[@var{object} hash]
15477 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
15478 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
15480 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
15481 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
15482 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
15483 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
15484 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
15485 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
15488 @subsection OpenCL C
15491 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
15494 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
15495 * OpenCL C Expressions::
15496 * OpenCL C Operators::
15499 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
15500 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
15502 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
15503 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
15504 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
15505 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
15506 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
15508 @node OpenCL C Expressions
15509 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
15511 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
15512 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
15513 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
15514 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
15516 @node OpenCL C Operators
15517 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
15519 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
15520 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
15524 @subsection Fortran
15525 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
15527 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
15528 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
15530 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
15531 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
15532 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
15533 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
15534 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
15538 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
15539 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
15540 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
15543 @node Fortran Operators
15544 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
15546 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
15548 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
15549 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
15550 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
15554 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
15558 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
15559 represent a section of array.
15562 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
15563 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
15564 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
15568 @node Fortran Defaults
15569 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
15571 @cindex Fortran Defaults
15573 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
15574 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
15575 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
15576 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
15578 @node Special Fortran Commands
15579 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
15581 @cindex Special Fortran commands
15583 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
15584 such as displaying common blocks.
15587 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
15588 @kindex info common
15589 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
15590 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
15591 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
15592 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
15599 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
15600 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
15601 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
15602 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
15605 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
15606 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
15607 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
15612 @value{GDBN} supports the @url{https://www.rust-lang.org/, Rust
15613 Programming Language}. Type- and value-printing, and expression
15614 parsing, are reasonably complete. However, there are a few
15615 peculiarities and holes to be aware of.
15619 Linespecs (@pxref{Specify Location}) are never relative to the current
15620 crate. Instead, they act as if there were a global namespace of
15621 crates, somewhat similar to the way @code{extern crate} behaves.
15623 That is, if @value{GDBN} is stopped at a breakpoint in a function in
15624 crate @samp{A}, module @samp{B}, then @code{break B::f} will attempt
15625 to set a breakpoint in a function named @samp{f} in a crate named
15628 As a consequence of this approach, linespecs also cannot refer to
15629 items using @samp{self::} or @samp{super::}.
15632 Because @value{GDBN} implements Rust name-lookup semantics in
15633 expressions, it will sometimes prepend the current crate to a name.
15634 For example, if @value{GDBN} is stopped at a breakpoint in the crate
15635 @samp{K}, then @code{print ::x::y} will try to find the symbol
15638 However, since it is useful to be able to refer to other crates when
15639 debugging, @value{GDBN} provides the @code{extern} extension to
15640 circumvent this. To use the extension, just put @code{extern} before
15641 a path expression to refer to the otherwise unavailable ``global''
15644 In the above example, if you wanted to refer to the symbol @samp{y} in
15645 the crate @samp{x}, you would use @code{print extern x::y}.
15648 The Rust expression evaluator does not support ``statement-like''
15649 expressions such as @code{if} or @code{match}, or lambda expressions.
15652 Tuple expressions are not implemented.
15655 The Rust expression evaluator does not currently implement the
15656 @code{Drop} trait. Objects that may be created by the evaluator will
15657 never be destroyed.
15660 @value{GDBN} does not implement type inference for generics. In order
15661 to call generic functions or otherwise refer to generic items, you
15662 will have to specify the type parameters manually.
15665 @value{GDBN} currently uses the C@t{++} demangler for Rust. In most
15666 cases this does not cause any problems. However, in an expression
15667 context, completing a generic function name will give syntactically
15668 invalid results. This happens because Rust requires the @samp{::}
15669 operator between the function name and its generic arguments. For
15670 example, @value{GDBN} might provide a completion like
15671 @code{crate::f<u32>}, where the parser would require
15672 @code{crate::f::<u32>}.
15675 As of this writing, the Rust compiler (version 1.8) has a few holes in
15676 the debugging information it generates. These holes prevent certain
15677 features from being implemented by @value{GDBN}:
15681 Method calls cannot be made via traits.
15684 Operator overloading is not implemented.
15687 When debugging in a monomorphized function, you cannot use the generic
15691 The type @code{Self} is not available.
15694 @code{use} statements are not available, so some names may not be
15695 available in the crate.
15700 @subsection Modula-2
15702 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
15704 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
15705 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
15706 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
15707 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
15708 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
15711 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
15713 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
15714 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
15715 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
15716 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
15717 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
15718 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
15719 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
15720 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
15721 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
15725 @subsubsection Operators
15726 @cindex Modula-2 operators
15728 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
15729 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
15730 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
15731 following definitions hold:
15736 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
15740 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
15743 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
15746 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
15750 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
15753 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
15756 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
15760 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
15761 increasing precedence:
15765 Function argument or array index separator.
15768 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
15772 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
15776 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
15777 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
15778 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
15780 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
15781 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
15782 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
15783 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
15787 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
15788 Same precedence as @code{<}.
15791 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
15794 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
15797 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
15800 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
15801 and difference on set types.
15804 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
15808 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
15809 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
15812 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
15813 precedence as @code{*}.
15816 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
15819 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
15822 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
15826 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
15827 precedence as @code{^}.
15830 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
15833 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
15837 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
15841 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
15842 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
15843 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
15844 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
15848 @node Built-In Func/Proc
15849 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
15850 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
15852 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
15853 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
15858 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
15861 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
15864 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
15867 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
15868 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
15869 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
15872 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
15875 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
15881 represents a variable.
15884 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
15885 explanation of the function for details.
15888 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
15892 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
15895 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
15896 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
15899 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
15902 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
15904 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
15905 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
15908 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
15909 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
15912 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
15913 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
15915 @item HIGH(@var{a})
15916 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
15919 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
15921 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
15922 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
15925 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
15926 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
15927 there. Returns the new set.
15930 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
15933 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
15936 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
15939 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
15940 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting
15941 the @sc{ascii} character set). The argument @var{x} must be of an
15942 ordered type, which include integral, character and enumerated types.
15944 @item SIZE(@var{x})
15945 Returns the size of its argument. The argument @var{x} can be a
15946 variable or a type.
15948 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
15949 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
15951 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
15952 Returns the size of its argument. The argument @var{x} can be a
15953 variable or a type.
15955 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
15956 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
15960 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
15961 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
15965 @cindex Modula-2 constants
15967 @subsubsection Constants
15969 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
15975 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
15976 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
15977 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
15978 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
15981 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
15982 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
15983 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
15984 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
15985 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
15989 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
15990 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
15991 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
15992 followed by a @samp{C}.
15995 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
15996 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
15997 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
15998 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
16002 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
16005 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
16009 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
16012 Set constants are not yet supported.
16016 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
16017 @cindex Modula-2 types
16019 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
16020 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
16021 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
16022 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
16023 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
16024 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
16026 The first example contains the following section of code:
16035 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
16036 @code{r} and @code{s}.
16039 (@value{GDBP}) print s
16041 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
16043 (@value{GDBP}) print r
16045 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
16050 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
16054 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
16058 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
16061 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
16062 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
16066 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
16067 expressions using the debugger.
16069 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
16070 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
16074 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
16078 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
16079 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
16082 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
16083 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
16084 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
16087 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
16091 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
16092 t = [blue..yellow] ;
16100 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
16101 and value of a variable.
16104 (@value{GDBP}) print s
16106 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
16107 type = [blue..yellow]
16111 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
16112 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
16113 their @code{C} counterparts.
16117 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
16123 (@value{GDBP}) print s
16124 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
16125 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
16126 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
16129 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
16130 pointer types as shown in this example:
16134 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
16141 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
16144 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
16145 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
16148 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
16149 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
16160 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
16161 myrange = [-2..2] ;
16163 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
16167 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
16171 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
16172 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
16175 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
16180 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
16181 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
16183 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
16184 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
16185 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
16186 selected the working language.
16188 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
16189 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
16190 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
16191 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
16194 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
16195 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
16197 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
16198 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
16202 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
16203 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
16204 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
16205 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
16206 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
16207 returned a pointer.)
16210 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
16211 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
16212 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
16213 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
16216 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
16220 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
16224 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
16225 @cindex Modula-2 checks
16228 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
16231 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
16233 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
16237 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
16238 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
16241 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
16242 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
16245 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
16246 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
16248 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
16249 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
16252 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
16254 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
16255 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
16257 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
16258 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
16261 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
16264 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
16265 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
16270 @var{module} . @var{id}
16271 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
16275 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
16276 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
16277 identifier within your program, except another module.
16279 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
16280 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
16281 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
16282 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
16284 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
16285 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
16286 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
16287 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
16288 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
16292 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
16294 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
16295 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
16296 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
16297 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
16298 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
16299 analogue in Modula-2.
16301 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
16302 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
16303 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
16304 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
16305 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
16306 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
16308 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
16309 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
16310 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
16316 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
16317 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
16318 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
16319 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
16323 @cindex expressions in Ada
16325 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
16326 and semantics supported by Ada mode
16328 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
16329 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
16330 * Overloading support for Ada:: Support for expressions involving overloaded
16332 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
16333 * Ada Exceptions:: Ada Exceptions
16334 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
16335 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
16336 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
16338 * Ada Settings:: New settable GDB parameters for Ada.
16339 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
16342 @node Ada Mode Intro
16343 @subsubsection Introduction
16344 @cindex Ada mode, general
16346 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
16347 syntax, with some extensions.
16348 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
16352 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
16353 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
16354 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
16355 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
16358 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
16359 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
16362 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
16365 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
16366 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
16367 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
16368 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
16369 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
16371 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
16372 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
16373 was translated from an Ada source file.
16375 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
16376 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
16377 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
16378 middle (to allow based literals).
16380 @node Omissions from Ada
16381 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
16382 @cindex Ada, omissions from
16384 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
16388 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
16392 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
16393 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
16396 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
16399 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
16405 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
16406 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
16409 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
16410 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
16418 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
16419 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
16420 not currently available.
16423 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
16424 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
16425 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
16426 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
16427 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
16428 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
16429 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
16430 indeterminate values.
16433 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
16434 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
16435 are not implemented.
16438 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
16439 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
16440 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
16441 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
16442 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
16445 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
16446 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
16447 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
16448 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
16449 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
16450 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
16454 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
16455 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
16456 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
16457 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
16458 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
16459 declared to have a type such as:
16462 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
16464 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
16468 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
16472 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
16473 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
16476 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
16477 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
16478 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
16479 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
16480 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
16481 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
16482 redundant component associations, although which component values are
16483 assigned in such cases is not defined.
16486 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
16489 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
16490 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
16491 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
16492 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
16493 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
16494 the proper resolution.
16497 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
16500 Entry calls are not implemented.
16503 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
16504 formats are not supported.
16507 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
16510 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
16511 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
16513 Should your program
16514 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
16515 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
16518 @node Additions to Ada
16519 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
16520 @cindex Ada, deviations from
16522 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
16523 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
16527 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
16528 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
16529 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
16530 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
16531 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
16532 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
16533 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
16534 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
16537 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
16538 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
16539 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
16542 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
16543 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
16546 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
16547 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
16550 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
16551 additions specific to Ada:
16555 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
16556 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
16559 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
16560 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
16564 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
16565 the value of its right-hand operand.
16566 This allows, for example,
16567 complex conditional breaks:
16570 (@value{GDBP}) break f
16571 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
16575 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
16576 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
16577 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
16578 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
16579 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
16580 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
16581 in strings. For example,
16583 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
16586 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
16590 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
16591 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
16595 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
16599 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
16600 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
16601 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
16602 of 3 might print as
16609 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
16613 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
16614 multi-character subsequence of
16615 their names (an exact match gets preference).
16616 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
16617 in place of @t{a'length}.
16620 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
16621 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
16622 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
16623 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
16624 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
16625 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
16628 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
16632 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
16633 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
16634 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
16635 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
16640 @node Overloading support for Ada
16641 @subsubsection Overloading support for Ada
16642 @cindex overloading, Ada
16644 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
16645 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
16646 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
16647 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
16648 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
16649 functions to procedures elsewhere.
16651 If, after narrowing, the set of matching definitions still contains more than
16652 one definition, @value{GDBN} will display a menu to query which one it should
16656 (@value{GDBP}) print f(1)
16657 Multiple matches for f
16659 [1] foo.f (integer) return boolean at foo.adb:23
16660 [2] foo.f (foo.new_integer) return boolean at foo.adb:28
16664 In this case, just select one menu entry either to cancel expression evaluation
16665 (type @kbd{0} and press @key{RET}) or to continue evaluation with a specific
16666 instance (type the corresponding number and press @key{RET}).
16668 Here are a couple of commands to customize @value{GDBN}'s behavior in this
16673 @kindex set ada print-signatures
16674 @item set ada print-signatures
16675 Control whether parameter types and return types are displayed in overloads
16676 selection menus. It is @code{on} by default.
16677 @xref{Overloading support for Ada}.
16679 @kindex show ada print-signatures
16680 @item show ada print-signatures
16681 Show the current setting for displaying parameter types and return types in
16682 overloads selection menu.
16683 @xref{Overloading support for Ada}.
16687 @node Stopping Before Main Program
16688 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
16690 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
16691 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
16692 before reaching the main procedure.
16693 As defined in the Ada Reference
16694 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
16695 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
16696 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
16697 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
16699 @node Ada Exceptions
16700 @subsubsection Ada Exceptions
16702 A command is provided to list all Ada exceptions:
16705 @kindex info exceptions
16706 @item info exceptions
16707 @itemx info exceptions @var{regexp}
16708 The @code{info exceptions} command allows you to list all Ada exceptions
16709 defined within the program being debugged, as well as their addresses.
16710 With a regular expression, @var{regexp}, as argument, only those exceptions
16711 whose names match @var{regexp} are listed.
16714 Below is a small example, showing how the command can be used, first
16715 without argument, and next with a regular expression passed as an
16719 (@value{GDBP}) info exceptions
16720 All defined Ada exceptions:
16721 constraint_error: 0x613da0
16722 program_error: 0x613d20
16723 storage_error: 0x613ce0
16724 tasking_error: 0x613ca0
16725 const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
16726 (@value{GDBP}) info exceptions const.aint
16727 All Ada exceptions matching regular expression "const.aint":
16728 constraint_error: 0x613da0
16729 const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
16732 It is also possible to ask @value{GDBN} to stop your program's execution
16733 when an exception is raised. For more details, see @ref{Set Catchpoints}.
16736 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
16737 @cindex Ada, tasking
16739 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
16740 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
16745 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
16752 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16753 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16754 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16755 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
16756 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
16757 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
16762 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
16763 task currently being inspected.
16767 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
16773 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
16776 The base priority of the task.
16779 Current state of the task.
16783 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
16787 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
16788 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
16791 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
16792 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
16793 terminated themselves.
16795 @item Child Activation Wait
16796 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
16798 @item Accept Statement
16799 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
16801 @item Waiting on entry call
16802 The task is waiting on an entry call.
16804 @item Async Select Wait
16805 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
16809 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
16812 @item Child Termination Wait
16813 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
16814 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
16815 waiting on a terminate Phase.
16817 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
16818 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
16819 finish terminating.
16821 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
16822 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
16826 Name of the task in the program.
16830 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
16831 @item info task @var{taskno}
16832 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
16833 the following example:
16838 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16839 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16840 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16841 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
16842 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
16843 Ada Task: 0x807c468
16846 Parent: 1 (main_task)
16852 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
16853 @cindex current Ada task ID
16854 This command prints the ID of the current task.
16860 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16861 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16862 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16863 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
16864 (@value{GDBP}) task
16865 [Current task is 2]
16868 @item task @var{taskno}
16869 @cindex Ada task switching
16870 This command is like the @code{thread @var{thread-id}}
16871 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
16872 from the current task to the given task.
16878 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16879 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16880 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16881 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
16882 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
16883 [Switching to task 1]
16884 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
16886 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
16887 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
16888 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
16889 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
16890 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
16893 @item break @var{location} task @var{taskno}
16894 @itemx break @var{location} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
16895 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
16896 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
16897 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
16898 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
16899 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}). The
16900 @var{location} argument specifies source lines, as described
16901 in @ref{Specify Location}.
16903 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
16904 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
16905 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. The @var{taskno} is one of the
16906 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
16907 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
16909 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
16910 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
16913 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
16914 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
16915 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
16923 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16924 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16925 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16926 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
16927 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
16928 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
16929 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
16930 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
16931 (@value{GDBP}) cont
16936 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
16938 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16939 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16940 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16941 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
16942 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
16943 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
16947 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
16948 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
16949 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
16951 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
16952 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
16953 the platform being used.
16954 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
16955 switching is not supported.
16957 On certain platforms, the debugger needs to perform some
16958 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
16959 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
16960 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
16961 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
16962 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
16964 @node Ravenscar Profile
16965 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
16966 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
16968 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
16969 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
16973 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
16974 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
16975 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
16976 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
16977 Profile. This is the default.
16979 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
16980 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
16981 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
16982 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
16983 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
16984 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
16985 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
16987 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
16988 @item show ravenscar task-switching
16989 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
16990 using the Ravenscar Profile.
16995 @subsubsection Ada Settings
16996 @cindex Ada settings
16999 @kindex set varsize-limit
17000 @item set varsize-limit @var{size}
17001 Prevent @value{GDBN} from attempting to evaluate objects whose size
17002 is above the given limit (@var{size}) when those sizes are computed
17003 from run-time quantities. This is typically the case when the object
17004 has a variable size, such as an array whose bounds are not known at
17005 compile time for example. Setting @var{size} to @code{unlimited}
17006 removes the size limitation. By default, the limit is about 65KB.
17008 The purpose of having such a limit is to prevent @value{GDBN} from
17009 trying to grab enormous chunks of virtual memory when asked to evaluate
17010 a quantity whose bounds have been corrupted or have not yet been fully
17011 initialized. The limit applies to the results of some subexpressions
17012 as well as to complete expressions. For example, an expression denoting
17013 a simple integer component, such as @code{x.y.z}, may fail if the size of
17014 @code{x.y} is variable and exceeds @code{size}. On the other hand,
17015 @value{GDBN} is sometimes clever; the expression @code{A(i)}, where
17016 @code{A} is an array variable with non-constant size, will generally
17017 succeed regardless of the bounds on @code{A}, as long as the component
17018 size is less than @var{size}.
17020 @kindex show varsize-limit
17021 @item show varsize-limit
17022 Show the limit on types whose size is determined by run-time quantities.
17026 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
17027 @cindex Ada, problems
17029 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
17030 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
17032 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
17033 and the GNU Ada compiler.
17037 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
17038 storage are invisible to the debugger.
17041 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
17042 argument lists are treated as positional).
17045 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
17048 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
17049 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
17053 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
17054 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
17055 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
17056 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
17057 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
17058 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
17059 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
17060 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
17061 you can usually resolve the confusion
17062 by qualifying the problematic names with package
17063 @code{Standard} explicitly.
17066 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
17067 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
17068 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
17069 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
17070 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
17073 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
17074 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
17077 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
17078 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
17079 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
17080 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
17081 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
17082 This is the default.
17084 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
17085 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
17086 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
17087 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
17088 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
17089 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
17090 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
17094 @cindex GNAT descriptive types
17095 @cindex GNAT encoding
17096 Internally, the debugger also relies on the compiler following a number
17097 of conventions known as the @samp{GNAT Encoding}, all documented in
17098 @file{gcc/ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources. This encoding describes
17099 how the debugging information should be generated for certain types.
17100 In particular, this convention makes use of @dfn{descriptive types},
17101 which are artificial types generated purely to help the debugger.
17103 These encodings were defined at a time when the debugging information
17104 format used was not powerful enough to describe some of the more complex
17105 types available in Ada. Since DWARF allows us to express nearly all
17106 Ada features, the long-term goal is to slowly replace these descriptive
17107 types by their pure DWARF equivalent. To facilitate that transition,
17108 a new maintenance option is available to force the debugger to ignore
17109 those descriptive types. It allows the user to quickly evaluate how
17110 well @value{GDBN} works without them.
17114 @kindex maint ada set ignore-descriptive-types
17115 @item maintenance ada set ignore-descriptive-types [on|off]
17116 Control whether the debugger should ignore descriptive types.
17117 The default is not to ignore descriptives types (@code{off}).
17119 @kindex maint ada show ignore-descriptive-types
17120 @item maintenance ada show ignore-descriptive-types
17121 Show if descriptive types are ignored by @value{GDBN}.
17125 @node Unsupported Languages
17126 @section Unsupported Languages
17128 @cindex unsupported languages
17129 @cindex minimal language
17130 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
17131 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
17132 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
17133 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
17134 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
17135 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
17137 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
17138 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
17142 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
17144 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
17145 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
17146 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
17147 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
17148 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
17149 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
17150 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17152 @cindex symbol names
17153 @cindex names of symbols
17154 @cindex quoting names
17155 @anchor{quoting names}
17156 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
17157 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
17158 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
17159 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
17160 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
17161 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
17162 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
17163 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
17170 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
17173 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
17174 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
17175 @kindex set case-sensitive
17176 @item set case-sensitive on
17177 @itemx set case-sensitive off
17178 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
17179 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
17180 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
17181 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
17182 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
17183 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
17184 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
17185 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
17186 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
17187 case-insensitive matches.
17189 @kindex show case-sensitive
17190 @item show case-sensitive
17191 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
17194 @kindex set print type methods
17195 @item set print type methods
17196 @itemx set print type methods on
17197 @itemx set print type methods off
17198 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
17199 declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
17200 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
17201 print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
17202 display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
17203 cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
17205 @kindex show print type methods
17206 @item show print type methods
17207 This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
17210 @kindex set print type nested-type-limit
17211 @item set print type nested-type-limit @var{limit}
17212 @itemx set print type nested-type-limit unlimited
17213 Set the limit of displayed nested types that the type printer will
17214 show. A @var{limit} of @code{unlimited} or @code{-1} will show all
17215 nested definitions. By default, the type printer will not show any nested
17216 types defined in classes.
17218 @kindex show print type nested-type-limit
17219 @item show print type nested-type-limit
17220 This command shows the current display limit of nested types when
17223 @kindex set print type typedefs
17224 @item set print type typedefs
17225 @itemx set print type typedefs on
17226 @itemx set print type typedefs off
17228 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
17229 defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
17230 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
17231 print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
17232 display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
17233 @code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
17234 Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
17235 printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
17238 @kindex show print type typedefs
17239 @item show print type typedefs
17240 This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
17243 @kindex info address
17244 @cindex address of a symbol
17245 @item info address @var{symbol}
17246 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
17247 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
17248 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
17251 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
17252 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
17253 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
17255 @kindex info symbol
17256 @cindex symbol from address
17257 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
17258 @item info symbol @var{addr}
17259 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
17260 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
17261 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
17264 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
17265 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
17269 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
17270 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
17272 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
17273 library containing the symbol is also printed:
17276 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
17277 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
17278 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
17279 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
17284 @item demangle @r{[}-l @var{language}@r{]} @r{[}@var{--}@r{]} @var{name}
17285 Demangle @var{name}.
17286 If @var{language} is provided it is the name of the language to demangle
17287 @var{name} in. Otherwise @var{name} is demangled in the current language.
17289 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
17290 and is useful when @var{name} begins with a dash.
17292 The parameter @code{demangle-style} specifies how to interpret the kind
17293 of mangling used. @xref{Print Settings}.
17296 @item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
17297 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
17298 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
17299 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
17301 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
17302 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
17303 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
17305 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
17306 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
17307 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
17308 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
17309 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
17310 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
17311 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
17312 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
17313 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
17315 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
17316 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
17317 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
17318 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
17319 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
17322 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
17323 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
17324 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
17326 @var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
17327 Available flags are:
17331 Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
17332 parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
17333 members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
17336 Do not print methods defined in the class.
17339 Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
17340 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
17343 Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
17344 whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
17345 names are substituted when printing other types.
17348 Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
17349 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
17352 Print the offsets and sizes of fields in a struct, similar to what the
17353 @command{pahole} tool does. This option implies the @code{/tm} flags.
17355 For example, given the following declarations:
17391 Issuing a @kbd{ptype /o struct tuv} command would print:
17394 (@value{GDBP}) ptype /o struct tuv
17395 /* offset | size */ type = struct tuv @{
17396 /* 0 | 4 */ int a1;
17397 /* XXX 4-byte hole */
17398 /* 8 | 8 */ char *a2;
17399 /* 16 | 4 */ int a3;
17401 /* total size (bytes): 24 */
17405 Notice the format of the first column of comments. There, you can
17406 find two parts separated by the @samp{|} character: the @emph{offset},
17407 which indicates where the field is located inside the struct, in
17408 bytes, and the @emph{size} of the field. Another interesting line is
17409 the marker of a @emph{hole} in the struct, indicating that it may be
17410 possible to pack the struct and make it use less space by reorganizing
17413 It is also possible to print offsets inside an union:
17416 (@value{GDBP}) ptype /o union qwe
17417 /* offset | size */ type = union qwe @{
17418 /* 24 */ struct tuv @{
17419 /* 0 | 4 */ int a1;
17420 /* XXX 4-byte hole */
17421 /* 8 | 8 */ char *a2;
17422 /* 16 | 4 */ int a3;
17424 /* total size (bytes): 24 */
17426 /* 40 */ struct xyz @{
17427 /* 0 | 4 */ int f1;
17428 /* 4 | 1 */ char f2;
17429 /* XXX 3-byte hole */
17430 /* 8 | 8 */ void *f3;
17431 /* 16 | 24 */ struct tuv @{
17432 /* 16 | 4 */ int a1;
17433 /* XXX 4-byte hole */
17434 /* 24 | 8 */ char *a2;
17435 /* 32 | 4 */ int a3;
17437 /* total size (bytes): 24 */
17440 /* total size (bytes): 40 */
17443 /* total size (bytes): 40 */
17447 In this case, since @code{struct tuv} and @code{struct xyz} occupy the
17448 same space (because we are dealing with an union), the offset is not
17449 printed for them. However, you can still examine the offset of each
17450 of these structures' fields.
17452 Another useful scenario is printing the offsets of a struct containing
17456 (@value{GDBP}) ptype /o struct tyu
17457 /* offset | size */ type = struct tyu @{
17458 /* 0:31 | 4 */ int a1 : 1;
17459 /* 0:28 | 4 */ int a2 : 3;
17460 /* 0: 5 | 4 */ int a3 : 23;
17461 /* 3: 3 | 1 */ signed char a4 : 2;
17462 /* XXX 3-bit hole */
17463 /* XXX 4-byte hole */
17464 /* 8 | 8 */ int64_t a5;
17465 /* 16:27 | 4 */ int a6 : 5;
17466 /* 16:56 | 8 */ int64_t a7 : 3;
17468 /* total size (bytes): 24 */
17472 Note how the offset information is now extended to also include how
17473 many bits are left to be used in each bitfield.
17477 @item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
17478 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
17479 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
17480 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
17482 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
17483 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
17484 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
17485 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
17486 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
17487 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
17488 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
17489 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
17491 For example, for this variable declaration:
17494 typedef double real_t;
17495 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
17496 typedef struct complex complex_t;
17498 real_t *real_pointer_var;
17502 the two commands give this output:
17506 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
17508 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
17509 type = struct complex @{
17513 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
17514 type = struct complex
17515 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
17516 type = struct complex
17517 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
17518 type = struct complex @{
17522 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
17524 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
17530 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
17531 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
17533 @cindex incomplete type
17534 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
17535 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
17536 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
17537 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
17538 given these declarations:
17542 struct foo *fooptr;
17546 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
17549 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
17550 $1 = <incomplete type>
17554 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
17555 completely specified.
17557 @cindex unknown type
17558 Othertimes, information about a variable's type is completely absent
17559 from the debug information included in the program. This most often
17560 happens when the program or library where the variable is defined
17561 includes no debug information at all. @value{GDBN} knows the variable
17562 exists from inspecting the linker/loader symbol table (e.g., the ELF
17563 dynamic symbol table), but such symbols do not contain type
17564 information. Inspecting the type of a (global) variable for which
17565 @value{GDBN} has no type information shows:
17568 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
17569 type = <data variable, no debug info>
17572 @xref{Variables, no debug info variables}, for how to print the values
17576 @item info types @var{regexp}
17578 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
17579 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
17580 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
17581 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
17582 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
17583 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
17584 name is @code{value}.
17586 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
17587 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
17588 lists all source files and line numbers where a type is defined.
17590 @kindex info type-printers
17591 @item info type-printers
17592 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
17593 have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
17594 @command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
17595 is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
17598 @code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
17600 @kindex enable type-printer
17601 @kindex disable type-printer
17602 @item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
17603 @item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
17604 These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
17607 @cindex local variables
17608 @item info scope @var{location}
17609 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
17610 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
17611 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
17612 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
17613 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
17616 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
17617 Scope for command_line_handler:
17618 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
17619 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
17620 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
17621 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
17622 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
17623 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
17624 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
17628 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
17629 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
17632 @kindex info source
17634 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
17635 the function containing the current point of execution:
17638 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
17640 the directory it was compiled in,
17642 its length, in lines,
17644 which programming language it is written in,
17646 if the debug information provides it, the program that compiled the file
17647 (which may include, e.g., the compiler version and command line arguments),
17649 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
17650 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
17652 whether the debugging information includes information about
17653 preprocessor macros.
17657 @kindex info sources
17659 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
17660 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
17661 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
17663 @kindex info functions
17664 @item info functions
17665 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
17666 Similarly to @samp{info types}, this command groups its output by source
17667 files and annotates each function definition with its source line
17670 @item info functions @var{regexp}
17671 Like @samp{info functions}, but only print the names and data types of
17672 functions whose names contain a match for regular expression
17673 @var{regexp}. Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose
17674 names include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
17675 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters that
17676 conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
17677 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
17679 @kindex info variables
17680 @item info variables
17681 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
17682 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
17683 The printed variables are grouped by source files and annotated with
17684 their respective source line numbers.
17686 @item info variables @var{regexp}
17687 Like @kbd{info variables}, but only print the names and data types of
17688 non-local variables whose names contain a match for regular expression
17691 @kindex info classes
17692 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
17694 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
17695 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
17696 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
17699 @kindex info selectors
17700 @item info selectors
17701 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
17702 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
17703 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
17707 This was never implemented.
17708 @kindex info methods
17710 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
17711 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
17712 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
17713 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
17714 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
17715 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
17716 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
17717 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
17720 @cindex opaque data types
17721 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
17722 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
17723 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
17724 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
17725 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
17726 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
17727 another source file. The default is on.
17729 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
17730 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
17732 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
17733 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
17734 is printed as follows:
17736 @{<no data fields>@}
17739 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
17740 @item show opaque-type-resolution
17741 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
17743 @kindex set print symbol-loading
17744 @cindex print messages when symbols are loaded
17745 @item set print symbol-loading
17746 @itemx set print symbol-loading full
17747 @itemx set print symbol-loading brief
17748 @itemx set print symbol-loading off
17749 The @code{set print symbol-loading} command allows you to control the
17750 printing of messages when @value{GDBN} loads symbol information.
17751 By default a message is printed for the executable and one for each
17752 shared library, and normally this is what you want. However, when
17753 debugging apps with large numbers of shared libraries these messages
17755 When set to @code{brief} a message is printed for each executable,
17756 and when @value{GDBN} loads a collection of shared libraries at once
17757 it will only print one message regardless of the number of shared
17758 libraries. When set to @code{off} no messages are printed.
17760 @kindex show print symbol-loading
17761 @item show print symbol-loading
17762 Show whether messages will be printed when a @value{GDBN} command
17763 entered from the keyboard causes symbol information to be loaded.
17765 @kindex maint print symbols
17766 @cindex symbol dump
17767 @kindex maint print psymbols
17768 @cindex partial symbol dump
17769 @kindex maint print msymbols
17770 @cindex minimal symbol dump
17771 @item maint print symbols @r{[}-pc @var{address}@r{]} @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
17772 @itemx maint print symbols @r{[}-objfile @var{objfile}@r{]} @r{[}-source @var{source}@r{]} @r{[}--@r{]} @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
17773 @itemx maint print psymbols @r{[}-objfile @var{objfile}@r{]} @r{[}-pc @var{address}@r{]} @r{[}--@r{]} @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
17774 @itemx maint print psymbols @r{[}-objfile @var{objfile}@r{]} @r{[}-source @var{source}@r{]} @r{[}--@r{]} @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
17775 @itemx maint print msymbols @r{[}-objfile @var{objfile}@r{]} @r{[}--@r{]} @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
17776 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename} or
17777 the terminal if @var{filename} is unspecified.
17778 If @code{-objfile @var{objfile}} is specified, only dump symbols for
17780 If @code{-pc @var{address}} is specified, only dump symbols for the file
17781 with code at that address. Note that @var{address} may be a symbol like
17783 If @code{-source @var{source}} is specified, only dump symbols for that
17786 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code.
17787 These commands do not modify internal @value{GDBN} state, therefore
17788 @samp{maint print symbols} will only print symbols for already expanded symbol
17790 You can use the command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are.
17791 If you use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information
17792 about symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols
17793 defined in files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely.
17794 Finally, @samp{maint print msymbols} just dumps ``minimal symbols'', e.g.,
17797 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
17798 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
17800 @kindex maint info symtabs
17801 @kindex maint info psymtabs
17802 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
17803 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17804 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17805 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17806 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
17807 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
17809 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
17810 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
17811 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
17812 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
17813 structure in more detail. For example:
17816 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
17817 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
17818 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
17819 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
17820 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
17823 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
17824 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
17825 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
17826 dependencies (none)
17829 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
17833 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
17834 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
17835 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
17836 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
17837 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
17840 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
17841 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
17843 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
17844 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
17845 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
17846 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
17847 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
17850 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
17851 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
17852 debugformat DWARF 2
17858 @kindex maint info line-table
17859 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal line tables
17860 @cindex line tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17861 @item maint info line-table @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
17863 List the @code{struct linetable} from all @code{struct symtab}
17864 instances whose name matches @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
17865 given, list the @code{struct linetable} from all @code{struct symtab}.
17867 @kindex maint set symbol-cache-size
17868 @cindex symbol cache size
17869 @item maint set symbol-cache-size @var{size}
17870 Set the size of the symbol cache to @var{size}.
17871 The default size is intended to be good enough for debugging
17872 most applications. This option exists to allow for experimenting
17873 with different sizes.
17875 @kindex maint show symbol-cache-size
17876 @item maint show symbol-cache-size
17877 Show the size of the symbol cache.
17879 @kindex maint print symbol-cache
17880 @cindex symbol cache, printing its contents
17881 @item maint print symbol-cache
17882 Print the contents of the symbol cache.
17883 This is useful when debugging symbol cache issues.
17885 @kindex maint print symbol-cache-statistics
17886 @cindex symbol cache, printing usage statistics
17887 @item maint print symbol-cache-statistics
17888 Print symbol cache usage statistics.
17889 This helps determine how well the cache is being utilized.
17891 @kindex maint flush-symbol-cache
17892 @cindex symbol cache, flushing
17893 @item maint flush-symbol-cache
17894 Flush the contents of the symbol cache, all entries are removed.
17895 This command is useful when debugging the symbol cache.
17896 It is also useful when collecting performance data.
17901 @chapter Altering Execution
17903 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
17904 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
17905 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
17906 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
17909 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
17910 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
17911 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
17914 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
17915 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
17916 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
17917 * Returning:: Returning from a function
17918 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
17919 * Patching:: Patching your program
17920 * Compiling and Injecting Code:: Compiling and injecting code in @value{GDBN}
17924 @section Assignment to Variables
17927 @cindex setting variables
17928 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
17929 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
17936 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
17937 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
17938 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
17939 information on operators in supported languages.
17941 @kindex set variable
17942 @cindex variables, setting
17943 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
17944 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
17945 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
17946 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
17947 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
17949 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
17950 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
17951 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
17952 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
17953 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
17954 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
17955 command @code{set width}:
17958 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
17960 (@value{GDBP}) p width
17962 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
17963 Invalid syntax in expression.
17967 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
17968 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
17971 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
17974 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
17975 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
17976 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
17977 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
17978 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
17979 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
17983 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
17987 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
17991 The program being debugged has been started already.
17992 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
17993 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
17994 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
17995 Invalid bfd target.
17996 (@value{GDBP}) show g
17997 The current BFD target is "=4".
18002 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
18003 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
18007 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
18010 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
18011 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
18012 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
18013 same length or shorter.
18014 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
18015 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
18017 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
18018 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
18019 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
18020 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
18021 and representation in memory), and
18024 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
18028 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
18031 @section Continuing at a Different Address
18033 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
18034 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
18035 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
18039 @kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
18040 @item jump @var{location}
18041 @itemx j @var{location}
18042 Resume execution at @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately
18043 if there is a breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description
18044 of the different forms of @var{location}. It is common
18045 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
18046 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
18048 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
18049 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
18050 register other than the program counter. If @var{location} is in
18051 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
18052 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
18053 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
18054 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
18055 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
18056 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
18059 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
18060 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
18061 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
18062 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
18070 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
18071 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
18072 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
18074 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
18075 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
18076 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
18081 @section Giving your Program a Signal
18082 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
18086 @item signal @var{signal}
18087 Resume execution where your program is stopped, but immediately give it the
18088 signal @var{signal}. The @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
18089 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
18090 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
18092 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
18093 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
18094 a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
18095 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
18098 @emph{Note:} When resuming a multi-threaded program, @var{signal} is
18099 delivered to the currently selected thread, not the thread that last
18100 reported a stop. This includes the situation where a thread was
18101 stopped due to a signal. So if you want to continue execution
18102 suppressing the signal that stopped a thread, you should select that
18103 same thread before issuing the @samp{signal 0} command. If you issue
18104 the @samp{signal 0} command with another thread as the selected one,
18105 @value{GDBN} detects that and asks for confirmation.
18107 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
18108 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
18109 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
18110 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
18111 passes the signal directly to your program.
18113 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
18114 after executing the command.
18116 @kindex queue-signal
18117 @item queue-signal @var{signal}
18118 Queue @var{signal} to be delivered immediately to the current thread
18119 when execution of the thread resumes. The @var{signal} can be the name or
18120 the number of a signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and
18121 @code{signal SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
18122 The handling of the signal must be set to pass the signal to the program,
18123 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error.
18124 You can control the handling of signals from @value{GDBN} with the
18125 @code{handle} command (@pxref{Signals}).
18127 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, any currently queued signal
18128 for the current thread is discarded and when execution resumes no signal
18129 will be delivered. This is useful when your program stopped on account
18130 of a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
18131 @code{continue} command.
18133 This command differs from the @code{signal} command in that the signal
18134 is just queued, execution is not resumed. And @code{queue-signal} cannot
18135 be used to pass a signal whose handling state has been set to @code{nopass}
18140 @xref{stepping into signal handlers}, for information on how stepping
18141 commands behave when the thread has a signal queued.
18144 @section Returning from a Function
18147 @cindex returning from a function
18150 @itemx return @var{expression}
18151 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
18152 command. If you give an
18153 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
18157 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
18158 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
18159 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
18160 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
18162 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
18163 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
18164 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
18165 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
18168 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
18169 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
18170 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
18171 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
18172 selected stack frame returns naturally.
18174 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
18175 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
18176 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
18177 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
18178 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
18179 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
18180 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
18181 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
18182 assignment into the right register(s).
18184 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
18185 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
18186 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
18187 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
18188 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
18189 into a @code{long long int}:
18192 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
18194 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
18195 Make func return now? (y or n) y
18196 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
18197 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
18201 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
18202 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
18203 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
18204 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
18205 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
18206 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
18207 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
18208 an appropriate cast explicitly:
18211 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
18212 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
18213 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
18214 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
18215 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
18216 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
18217 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
18222 @section Calling Program Functions
18225 @cindex calling functions
18226 @cindex inferior functions, calling
18227 @item print @var{expr}
18228 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
18229 The expression may include calls to functions in the program being
18233 @item call @var{expr}
18234 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
18237 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
18238 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
18239 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
18240 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
18241 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
18245 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
18246 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
18247 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
18248 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
18250 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
18251 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
18252 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
18253 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
18254 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
18255 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
18256 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
18257 in that case is controlled by the
18258 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
18261 @item set unwindonsignal
18262 @kindex set unwindonsignal
18263 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
18264 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
18265 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
18266 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
18267 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
18268 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
18269 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
18272 @item show unwindonsignal
18273 @kindex show unwindonsignal
18274 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
18277 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
18278 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
18279 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
18280 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
18281 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
18282 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
18283 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
18284 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
18285 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
18286 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
18288 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
18289 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
18290 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
18295 @subsection Calling functions with no debug info
18297 @cindex no debug info functions
18298 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is missing debug information.
18299 In such case, @value{GDBN} does not know the type of the function,
18300 including the types of the function's parameters. To avoid calling
18301 the inferior function incorrectly, which could result in the called
18302 function functioning erroneously and even crash, @value{GDBN} refuses
18303 to call the function unless you tell it the type of the function.
18305 For prototyped (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) functions, there are two ways
18306 to do that. The simplest is to cast the call to the function's
18307 declared return type. For example:
18310 (@value{GDBP}) p getenv ("PATH")
18311 'getenv' has unknown return type; cast the call to its declared return type
18312 (@value{GDBP}) p (char *) getenv ("PATH")
18313 $1 = 0x7fffffffe7ba "/usr/local/bin:/"...
18316 Casting the return type of a no-debug function is equivalent to
18317 casting the function to a pointer to a prototyped function that has a
18318 prototype that matches the types of the passed-in arguments, and
18319 calling that. I.e., the call above is equivalent to:
18322 (@value{GDBP}) p ((char * (*) (const char *)) getenv) ("PATH")
18326 and given this prototyped C or C++ function with float parameters:
18329 float multiply (float v1, float v2) @{ return v1 * v2; @}
18333 these calls are equivalent:
18336 (@value{GDBP}) p (float) multiply (2.0f, 3.0f)
18337 (@value{GDBP}) p ((float (*) (float, float)) multiply) (2.0f, 3.0f)
18340 If the function you wish to call is declared as unprototyped (i.e.@:
18341 old K&R style), you must use the cast-to-function-pointer syntax, so
18342 that @value{GDBN} knows that it needs to apply default argument
18343 promotions (promote float arguments to double). @xref{ABI, float
18344 promotion}. For example, given this unprototyped C function with
18345 float parameters, and no debug info:
18349 multiply_noproto (v1, v2)
18357 you call it like this:
18360 (@value{GDBP}) p ((float (*) ()) multiply_noproto) (2.0f, 3.0f)
18364 @section Patching Programs
18366 @cindex patching binaries
18367 @cindex writing into executables
18368 @cindex writing into corefiles
18370 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
18371 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
18372 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
18373 patching your program's binary.
18375 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
18376 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
18377 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
18383 @itemx set write off
18384 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
18385 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
18386 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
18388 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
18389 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
18390 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
18394 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
18395 as well as reading.
18398 @node Compiling and Injecting Code
18399 @section Compiling and injecting code in @value{GDBN}
18400 @cindex injecting code
18401 @cindex writing into executables
18402 @cindex compiling code
18404 @value{GDBN} supports on-demand compilation and code injection into
18405 programs running under @value{GDBN}. GCC 5.0 or higher built with
18406 @file{libcc1.so} must be installed for this functionality to be enabled.
18407 This functionality is implemented with the following commands.
18410 @kindex compile code
18411 @item compile code @var{source-code}
18412 @itemx compile code -raw @var{--} @var{source-code}
18413 Compile @var{source-code} with the compiler language found as the current
18414 language in @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Languages}). If compilation and
18415 injection is not supported with the current language specified in
18416 @value{GDBN}, or the compiler does not support this feature, an error
18417 message will be printed. If @var{source-code} compiles and links
18418 successfully, @value{GDBN} will load the object-code emitted,
18419 and execute it within the context of the currently selected inferior.
18420 It is important to note that the compiled code is executed immediately.
18421 After execution, the compiled code is removed from @value{GDBN} and any
18422 new types or variables you have defined will be deleted.
18424 The command allows you to specify @var{source-code} in two ways.
18425 The simplest method is to provide a single line of code to the command.
18429 compile code printf ("hello world\n");
18432 If you specify options on the command line as well as source code, they
18433 may conflict. The @samp{--} delimiter can be used to separate options
18434 from actual source code. E.g.:
18437 compile code -r -- printf ("hello world\n");
18440 Alternatively you can enter source code as multiple lines of text. To
18441 enter this mode, invoke the @samp{compile code} command without any text
18442 following the command. This will start the multiple-line editor and
18443 allow you to type as many lines of source code as required. When you
18444 have completed typing, enter @samp{end} on its own line to exit the
18449 >printf ("hello\n");
18450 >printf ("world\n");
18454 Specifying @samp{-raw}, prohibits @value{GDBN} from wrapping the
18455 provided @var{source-code} in a callable scope. In this case, you must
18456 specify the entry point of the code by defining a function named
18457 @code{_gdb_expr_}. The @samp{-raw} code cannot access variables of the
18458 inferior. Using @samp{-raw} option may be needed for example when
18459 @var{source-code} requires @samp{#include} lines which may conflict with
18460 inferior symbols otherwise.
18462 @kindex compile file
18463 @item compile file @var{filename}
18464 @itemx compile file -raw @var{filename}
18465 Like @code{compile code}, but take the source code from @var{filename}.
18468 compile file /home/user/example.c
18473 @item compile print @var{expr}
18474 @itemx compile print /@var{f} @var{expr}
18475 Compile and execute @var{expr} with the compiler language found as the
18476 current language in @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Languages}). By default the
18477 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
18478 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
18479 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
18482 @item compile print
18483 @itemx compile print /@var{f}
18484 @cindex reprint the last value
18485 Alternatively you can enter the expression (source code producing it) as
18486 multiple lines of text. To enter this mode, invoke the @samp{compile print}
18487 command without any text following the command. This will start the
18488 multiple-line editor.
18492 The process of compiling and injecting the code can be inspected using:
18495 @anchor{set debug compile}
18496 @item set debug compile
18497 @cindex compile command debugging info
18498 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} process of compiling and
18499 injecting the code. The default is off.
18501 @item show debug compile
18502 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} process of
18503 compiling and injecting the code.
18506 @subsection Compilation options for the @code{compile} command
18508 @value{GDBN} needs to specify the right compilation options for the code
18509 to be injected, in part to make its ABI compatible with the inferior
18510 and in part to make the injected code compatible with @value{GDBN}'s
18514 The options used, in increasing precedence:
18517 @item target architecture and OS options (@code{gdbarch})
18518 These options depend on target processor type and target operating
18519 system, usually they specify at least 32-bit (@code{-m32}) or 64-bit
18520 (@code{-m64}) compilation option.
18522 @item compilation options recorded in the target
18523 @value{NGCC} (since version 4.7) stores the options used for compilation
18524 into @code{DW_AT_producer} part of DWARF debugging information according
18525 to the @value{NGCC} option @code{-grecord-gcc-switches}. One has to
18526 explicitly specify @code{-g} during inferior compilation otherwise
18527 @value{NGCC} produces no DWARF. This feature is only relevant for
18528 platforms where @code{-g} produces DWARF by default, otherwise one may
18529 try to enforce DWARF by using @code{-gdwarf-4}.
18531 @item compilation options set by @code{set compile-args}
18535 You can override compilation options using the following command:
18538 @item set compile-args
18539 @cindex compile command options override
18540 Set compilation options used for compiling and injecting code with the
18541 @code{compile} commands. These options override any conflicting ones
18542 from the target architecture and/or options stored during inferior
18545 @item show compile-args
18546 Displays the current state of compilation options override.
18547 This does not show all the options actually used during compilation,
18548 use @ref{set debug compile} for that.
18551 @subsection Caveats when using the @code{compile} command
18553 There are a few caveats to keep in mind when using the @code{compile}
18554 command. As the caveats are different per language, the table below
18555 highlights specific issues on a per language basis.
18558 @item C code examples and caveats
18559 When the language in @value{GDBN} is set to @samp{C}, the compiler will
18560 attempt to compile the source code with a @samp{C} compiler. The source
18561 code provided to the @code{compile} command will have much the same
18562 access to variables and types as it normally would if it were part of
18563 the program currently being debugged in @value{GDBN}.
18565 Below is a sample program that forms the basis of the examples that
18566 follow. This program has been compiled and loaded into @value{GDBN},
18567 much like any other normal debugging session.
18570 void function1 (void)
18573 printf ("function 1\n");
18576 void function2 (void)
18591 For the purposes of the examples in this section, the program above has
18592 been compiled, loaded into @value{GDBN}, stopped at the function
18593 @code{main}, and @value{GDBN} is awaiting input from the user.
18595 To access variables and types for any program in @value{GDBN}, the
18596 program must be compiled and packaged with debug information. The
18597 @code{compile} command is not an exception to this rule. Without debug
18598 information, you can still use the @code{compile} command, but you will
18599 be very limited in what variables and types you can access.
18601 So with that in mind, the example above has been compiled with debug
18602 information enabled. The @code{compile} command will have access to
18603 all variables and types (except those that may have been optimized
18604 out). Currently, as @value{GDBN} has stopped the program in the
18605 @code{main} function, the @code{compile} command would have access to
18606 the variable @code{k}. You could invoke the @code{compile} command
18607 and type some source code to set the value of @code{k}. You can also
18608 read it, or do anything with that variable you would normally do in
18609 @code{C}. Be aware that changes to inferior variables in the
18610 @code{compile} command are persistent. In the following example:
18613 compile code k = 3;
18617 the variable @code{k} is now 3. It will retain that value until
18618 something else in the example program changes it, or another
18619 @code{compile} command changes it.
18621 Normal scope and access rules apply to source code compiled and
18622 injected by the @code{compile} command. In the example, the variables
18623 @code{j} and @code{k} are not accessible yet, because the program is
18624 currently stopped in the @code{main} function, where these variables
18625 are not in scope. Therefore, the following command
18628 compile code j = 3;
18632 will result in a compilation error message.
18634 Once the program is continued, execution will bring these variables in
18635 scope, and they will become accessible; then the code you specify via
18636 the @code{compile} command will be able to access them.
18638 You can create variables and types with the @code{compile} command as
18639 part of your source code. Variables and types that are created as part
18640 of the @code{compile} command are not visible to the rest of the program for
18641 the duration of its run. This example is valid:
18644 compile code int ff = 5; printf ("ff is %d\n", ff);
18647 However, if you were to type the following into @value{GDBN} after that
18648 command has completed:
18651 compile code printf ("ff is %d\n'', ff);
18655 a compiler error would be raised as the variable @code{ff} no longer
18656 exists. Object code generated and injected by the @code{compile}
18657 command is removed when its execution ends. Caution is advised
18658 when assigning to program variables values of variables created by the
18659 code submitted to the @code{compile} command. This example is valid:
18662 compile code int ff = 5; k = ff;
18665 The value of the variable @code{ff} is assigned to @code{k}. The variable
18666 @code{k} does not require the existence of @code{ff} to maintain the value
18667 it has been assigned. However, pointers require particular care in
18668 assignment. If the source code compiled with the @code{compile} command
18669 changed the address of a pointer in the example program, perhaps to a
18670 variable created in the @code{compile} command, that pointer would point
18671 to an invalid location when the command exits. The following example
18672 would likely cause issues with your debugged program:
18675 compile code int ff = 5; p = &ff;
18678 In this example, @code{p} would point to @code{ff} when the
18679 @code{compile} command is executing the source code provided to it.
18680 However, as variables in the (example) program persist with their
18681 assigned values, the variable @code{p} would point to an invalid
18682 location when the command exists. A general rule should be followed
18683 in that you should either assign @code{NULL} to any assigned pointers,
18684 or restore a valid location to the pointer before the command exits.
18686 Similar caution must be exercised with any structs, unions, and typedefs
18687 defined in @code{compile} command. Types defined in the @code{compile}
18688 command will no longer be available in the next @code{compile} command.
18689 Therefore, if you cast a variable to a type defined in the
18690 @code{compile} command, care must be taken to ensure that any future
18691 need to resolve the type can be achieved.
18694 (gdb) compile code static struct a @{ int a; @} v = @{ 42 @}; argv = &v;
18695 (gdb) compile code printf ("%d\n", ((struct a *) argv)->a);
18696 gdb command line:1:36: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type ‘struct a’
18697 Compilation failed.
18698 (gdb) compile code struct a @{ int a; @}; printf ("%d\n", ((struct a *) argv)->a);
18702 Variables that have been optimized away by the compiler are not
18703 accessible to the code submitted to the @code{compile} command.
18704 Access to those variables will generate a compiler error which @value{GDBN}
18705 will print to the console.
18708 @subsection Compiler search for the @code{compile} command
18710 @value{GDBN} needs to find @value{NGCC} for the inferior being debugged
18711 which may not be obvious for remote targets of different architecture
18712 than where @value{GDBN} is running. Environment variable @code{PATH} on
18713 @value{GDBN} host is searched for @value{NGCC} binary matching the
18714 target architecture and operating system. This search can be overriden
18715 by @code{set compile-gcc} @value{GDBN} command below. @code{PATH} is
18716 taken from shell that executed @value{GDBN}, it is not the value set by
18717 @value{GDBN} command @code{set environment}). @xref{Environment}.
18720 Specifically @code{PATH} is searched for binaries matching regular expression
18721 @code{@var{arch}(-[^-]*)?-@var{os}-gcc} according to the inferior target being
18722 debugged. @var{arch} is processor name --- multiarch is supported, so for
18723 example both @code{i386} and @code{x86_64} targets look for pattern
18724 @code{(x86_64|i.86)} and both @code{s390} and @code{s390x} targets look
18725 for pattern @code{s390x?}. @var{os} is currently supported only for
18726 pattern @code{linux(-gnu)?}.
18728 On Posix hosts the compiler driver @value{GDBN} needs to find also
18729 shared library @file{libcc1.so} from the compiler. It is searched in
18730 default shared library search path (overridable with usual environment
18731 variable @code{LD_LIBRARY_PATH}), unrelated to @code{PATH} or @code{set
18732 compile-gcc} settings. Contrary to it @file{libcc1plugin.so} is found
18733 according to the installation of the found compiler --- as possibly
18734 specified by the @code{set compile-gcc} command.
18737 @item set compile-gcc
18738 @cindex compile command driver filename override
18739 Set compilation command used for compiling and injecting code with the
18740 @code{compile} commands. If this option is not set (it is set to
18741 an empty string), the search described above will occur --- that is the
18744 @item show compile-gcc
18745 Displays the current compile command @value{NGCC} driver filename.
18746 If set, it is the main command @command{gcc}, found usually for example
18747 under name @file{x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc}.
18751 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
18753 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
18754 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
18755 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
18756 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
18759 * Files:: Commands to specify files
18760 * File Caching:: Information about @value{GDBN}'s file caching
18761 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
18762 * MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
18763 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
18764 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
18765 * Data Files:: GDB data files
18769 @section Commands to Specify Files
18771 @cindex symbol table
18772 @cindex core dump file
18774 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
18775 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
18776 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
18777 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
18779 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
18780 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
18781 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
18782 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
18783 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
18784 new files are useful.
18787 @cindex executable file
18789 @item file @var{filename}
18790 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
18791 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
18792 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
18793 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
18794 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
18795 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
18796 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
18797 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
18799 @cindex unlinked object files
18800 @cindex patching object files
18801 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
18802 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
18803 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
18804 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
18805 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
18806 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
18807 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
18808 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
18811 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
18812 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
18815 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
18816 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
18817 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
18818 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
18819 discard information on the executable file.
18821 @kindex symbol-file
18822 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
18823 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
18824 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
18825 table and program to run from the same file.
18827 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
18828 program's symbol table.
18830 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
18831 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
18832 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
18833 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
18836 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
18839 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
18840 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
18841 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
18842 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
18843 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
18844 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
18847 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
18848 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
18849 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
18850 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
18851 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
18853 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
18854 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
18855 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
18856 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
18857 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
18858 Warnings and Messages}.)
18860 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
18861 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
18862 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
18863 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
18867 @cindex reading symbols immediately
18868 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
18869 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
18870 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
18871 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
18872 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
18873 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
18874 entire symbol table available.
18876 @cindex @code{-readnever}, option for symbol-file command
18877 @cindex never read symbols
18878 @cindex symbols, never read
18879 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnever @r{]} @var{filename}
18880 @itemx file @r{[} -readnever @r{]} @var{filename}
18881 You can instruct @value{GDBN} to never read the symbolic information
18882 contained in @var{filename} by using the @samp{-readnever} option.
18883 @xref{--readnever}.
18885 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
18886 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
18887 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
18888 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
18889 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
18890 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
18894 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
18896 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
18897 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
18898 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
18899 executable file itself for other parts.
18901 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
18904 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
18905 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
18906 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
18907 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
18908 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
18910 @kindex add-symbol-file
18911 @cindex dynamic linking
18912 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
18913 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{|} -readnever @r{]}
18914 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
18915 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
18916 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
18917 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
18918 into the program that is running. The @var{address} should give the memory
18919 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
18920 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
18921 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
18922 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
18923 @var{address} as an expression.
18925 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
18926 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
18927 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
18928 thus read is kept in addition to the old.
18930 Changes can be reverted using the command @code{remove-symbol-file}.
18932 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
18933 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
18934 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
18935 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
18936 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
18937 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
18938 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
18939 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
18940 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
18944 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
18945 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
18947 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
18948 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
18950 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
18951 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
18955 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
18956 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
18957 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
18958 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
18959 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
18960 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
18961 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
18962 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
18963 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
18966 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
18968 @kindex remove-symbol-file
18969 @item remove-symbol-file @var{filename}
18970 @item remove-symbol-file -a @var{address}
18971 Remove a symbol file added via the @code{add-symbol-file} command. The
18972 file to remove can be identified by its @var{filename} or by an @var{address}
18973 that lies within the boundaries of this symbol file in memory. Example:
18976 (gdb) add-symbol-file /home/user/gdb/mylib.so 0x7ffff7ff9480
18977 add symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so" at
18978 .text_addr = 0x7ffff7ff9480
18980 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/mylib.so...done.
18981 (gdb) remove-symbol-file -a 0x7ffff7ff9480
18982 Remove symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so"? (y or n) y
18987 @code{remove-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
18989 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
18990 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
18991 @cindex load symbols from memory
18992 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
18993 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
18994 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
18995 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
18996 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
18997 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
18998 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
18999 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
19000 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
19003 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
19004 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
19005 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
19006 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
19007 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
19008 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
19009 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
19013 @kindex info target
19016 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
19017 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
19018 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
19019 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
19020 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
19023 @kindex maint info sections
19024 @item maint info sections
19025 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
19026 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
19027 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
19028 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
19029 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
19030 may be arbitrarily combined):
19034 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
19035 @item @var{sections}
19036 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
19037 @item @var{section-flags}
19038 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
19039 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
19042 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
19043 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
19045 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
19046 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
19048 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
19050 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
19052 Section contains executable code only.
19054 Section contains data only (no executable code).
19056 Section will reside in ROM.
19058 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
19060 Section is not empty.
19062 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
19063 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
19064 A notification to the linker that the section contains
19065 COFF shared library information.
19067 Section contains common symbols.
19070 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
19071 @cindex read-only sections
19072 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
19073 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
19074 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
19075 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
19076 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
19077 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
19078 enhancement to debugging performance.
19080 The default is off.
19082 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
19083 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
19084 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
19085 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
19087 @item show trust-readonly-sections
19088 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
19091 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
19092 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
19093 name and remembers it that way.
19095 @cindex shared libraries
19096 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
19097 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, SunOS,
19098 Darwin/Mach-O, SVr4, IBM RS/6000 AIX, QNX Neutrino, FDPIC (FR-V), and
19099 DSBT (TIC6X) shared libraries.
19101 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
19102 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
19104 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
19105 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
19106 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
19107 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
19108 debugging a core file).
19110 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
19111 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
19112 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
19114 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
19115 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
19116 particularly large or there are many of them.
19118 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
19122 @kindex set auto-solib-add
19123 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
19124 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
19125 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
19126 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
19127 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
19128 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
19129 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
19131 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
19132 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
19133 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
19134 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
19135 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
19136 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
19137 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
19138 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
19139 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
19141 @kindex show auto-solib-add
19142 @item show auto-solib-add
19143 Display the current autoloading mode.
19146 @cindex load shared library
19147 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
19151 @kindex info sharedlibrary
19153 @item info share @var{regex}
19154 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
19155 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
19156 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
19157 all shared libraries that are loaded.
19160 @item info dll @var{regex}
19161 This is an alias of @code{info sharedlibrary}.
19163 @kindex sharedlibrary
19165 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
19166 @itemx share @var{regex}
19167 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
19168 Unix regular expression.
19169 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
19170 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
19171 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
19174 @item nosharedlibrary
19175 @kindex nosharedlibrary
19176 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
19177 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
19178 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
19179 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
19183 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
19184 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
19185 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
19188 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
19189 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
19190 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
19191 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
19194 @item set stop-on-solib-events
19195 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
19196 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
19197 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
19198 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
19201 @item show stop-on-solib-events
19202 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
19203 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
19204 library events happen.
19207 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
19208 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
19209 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
19210 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
19211 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
19212 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
19213 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
19216 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
19217 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
19218 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
19219 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
19220 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
19223 @cindex prefix for executable and shared library file names
19224 @cindex system root, alternate
19225 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
19226 @kindex set sysroot
19227 @item set sysroot @var{path}
19228 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
19229 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
19230 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
19231 target program's memory. When starting processes remotely, and when
19232 attaching to already-running processes (local or remote), their
19233 executable filenames will be prefixed with @var{path} if reported to
19234 @value{GDBN} as absolute by the operating system. If you use
19235 @code{set sysroot} to find executables and shared libraries, they need
19236 to be laid out in the same way that they are on the target, with
19237 e.g.@: a @file{/bin}, @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy under
19240 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{target:} and the target
19241 system is remote then @value{GDBN} will retrieve the target binaries
19242 from the remote system. This is only supported when using a remote
19243 target that supports the @code{remote get} command (@pxref{File
19244 Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}). The part of @var{path}
19245 following the initial @file{target:} (if present) is used as system
19246 root prefix on the remote file system. If @var{path} starts with the
19247 sequence @file{remote:} this is converted to the sequence
19248 @file{target:} by @code{set sysroot}@footnote{Historically the
19249 functionality to retrieve binaries from the remote system was
19250 provided by prefixing @var{path} with @file{remote:}}. If you want
19251 to specify a local system root using a directory that happens to be
19252 named @file{target:} or @file{remote:}, you need to use some
19253 equivalent variant of the name like @file{./target:}.
19255 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
19256 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
19257 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
19258 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
19259 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
19262 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
19265 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
19266 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
19270 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
19273 If that does not find the binary, @value{GDBN} tries removing
19274 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
19275 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
19279 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
19282 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
19283 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
19284 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
19288 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
19289 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
19290 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
19294 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
19295 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
19296 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
19298 If that still does not find the binary, @value{GDBN} tries
19299 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
19302 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
19305 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
19306 if you don't want or need to.
19308 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
19311 @cindex default system root
19312 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
19313 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
19314 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
19315 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
19316 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
19317 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
19320 @kindex show sysroot
19322 Display the current executable and shared library prefix.
19324 @kindex set solib-search-path
19325 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
19326 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
19327 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
19328 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
19329 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
19330 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
19331 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
19332 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
19333 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
19334 of shared library symbols.
19336 @kindex show solib-search-path
19337 @item show solib-search-path
19338 Display the current shared library search path.
19340 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
19341 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
19342 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
19343 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
19344 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
19346 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
19347 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
19348 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
19349 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
19350 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
19351 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
19352 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
19353 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
19354 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
19355 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
19356 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
19357 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
19358 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
19359 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
19360 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
19361 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
19362 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
19363 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
19364 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
19365 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
19366 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
19367 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
19371 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
19372 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
19373 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
19377 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
19378 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
19379 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
19380 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
19381 considered directory separators.
19384 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
19385 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
19386 This is the default.
19390 @cindex file name canonicalization
19391 @cindex base name differences
19392 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
19393 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
19394 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
19395 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
19396 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
19397 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
19398 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
19399 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
19400 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
19401 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
19402 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
19403 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
19404 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
19405 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
19406 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
19409 @item set basenames-may-differ
19410 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
19411 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
19413 @item show basenames-may-differ
19414 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
19415 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
19419 @section File Caching
19420 @cindex caching of opened files
19421 @cindex caching of bfd objects
19423 To speed up file loading, and reduce memory usage, @value{GDBN} will
19424 reuse the @code{bfd} objects used to track open files. @xref{Top, ,
19425 BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}. The following commands
19426 allow visibility and control of the caching behavior.
19429 @kindex maint info bfds
19430 @item maint info bfds
19431 This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
19434 @kindex maint set bfd-sharing
19435 @kindex maint show bfd-sharing
19436 @kindex bfd caching
19437 @item maint set bfd-sharing
19438 @item maint show bfd-sharing
19439 Control whether @code{bfd} objects can be shared. When sharing is
19440 enabled @value{GDBN} reuses already open @code{bfd} objects rather
19441 than reopening the same file. Turning sharing off does not cause
19442 already shared @code{bfd} objects to be unshared, but all future files
19443 that are opened will create a new @code{bfd} object. Similarly,
19444 re-enabling sharing does not cause multiple existing @code{bfd}
19445 objects to be collapsed into a single shared @code{bfd} object.
19447 @kindex set debug bfd-cache @var{level}
19448 @kindex bfd caching
19449 @item set debug bfd-cache @var{level}
19450 Turns on debugging of the bfd cache, setting the level to @var{level}.
19452 @kindex show debug bfd-cache
19453 @kindex bfd caching
19454 @item show debug bfd-cache
19455 Show the current debugging level of the bfd cache.
19458 @node Separate Debug Files
19459 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
19460 @cindex separate debugging information files
19461 @cindex debugging information in separate files
19462 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
19463 @cindex debugging information directory, global
19464 @cindex global debugging information directories
19465 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
19466 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
19468 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
19469 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
19470 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
19471 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
19472 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
19473 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
19474 install only when they need to debug a problem.
19476 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
19481 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
19482 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
19483 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
19484 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
19485 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
19486 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
19487 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
19488 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
19491 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
19492 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
19493 only on some operating systems, when using the ELF or PE file formats
19494 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
19495 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
19496 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
19497 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
19498 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
19502 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
19503 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
19507 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
19508 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
19509 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
19510 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
19511 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
19514 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
19515 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
19516 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
19517 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
19518 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
19519 hex characters, not 10.)
19522 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
19523 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
19524 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
19525 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
19526 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
19527 debug information files, in the indicated order:
19531 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
19533 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
19535 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
19537 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
19540 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
19541 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
19542 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
19543 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
19544 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
19548 @kindex set debug-file-directory
19549 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
19550 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
19551 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
19552 concatenating them by a path separator.
19554 @kindex show debug-file-directory
19555 @item show debug-file-directory
19556 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
19561 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
19562 @cindex debug link sections
19563 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
19564 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
19568 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
19571 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
19572 boundary within the section, and
19574 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
19575 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
19576 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
19577 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
19580 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
19581 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
19584 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
19585 @cindex build ID sections
19586 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
19587 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
19588 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
19589 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
19590 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
19591 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
19592 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
19593 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
19594 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
19596 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
19597 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
19598 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
19599 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
19600 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
19601 in an ordinary executable.
19603 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
19604 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
19605 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
19606 following commands:
19609 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
19614 These commands remove the debugging
19615 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
19616 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
19621 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
19622 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
19625 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
19628 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
19629 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
19630 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
19631 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
19634 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
19635 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
19636 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
19637 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
19642 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
19643 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
19644 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
19646 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
19647 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
19648 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
19653 <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>
19654 + <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
19660 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
19661 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
19665 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
19666 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
19667 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
19668 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
19671 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
19672 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{qCRC packet}).
19673 However in the case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed
19674 @emph{most} significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so
19675 trailing zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
19677 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
19678 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
19679 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
19680 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
19683 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
19686 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
19687 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
19689 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
19691 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
19692 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
19693 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
19694 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
19695 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
19696 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
19697 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
19698 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
19699 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
19700 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
19701 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
19702 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
19703 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
19704 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
19705 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
19706 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
19707 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
19708 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
19709 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
19710 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
19711 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
19712 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
19713 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
19714 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
19715 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
19716 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
19717 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
19718 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
19719 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
19720 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
19721 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
19722 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
19723 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
19724 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
19725 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
19726 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
19727 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
19728 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
19729 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
19730 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
19731 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
19732 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
19733 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
19734 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
19735 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
19736 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
19737 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
19738 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
19739 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
19740 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
19741 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
19744 unsigned char *end;
19746 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
19747 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
19748 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
19749 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
19754 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
19756 @node MiniDebugInfo
19757 @section Debugging information in a special section
19758 @cindex separate debug sections
19759 @cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
19761 Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
19762 special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
19763 @dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
19764 is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
19766 The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
19767 information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
19768 replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
19769 Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
19770 @value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
19771 debugging information might be included in the section.
19773 @value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
19774 then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
19775 can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
19777 This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
19778 standard utilities:
19781 # Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
19782 # to also have these in the normal symbol table.
19783 nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
19784 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
19786 # Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo.
19787 # (Note that we actually also accept "D" symbols, for the benefit
19788 # of platforms like PowerPC64 that use function descriptors.)
19789 nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
19790 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t" || $2 == "D") print $1 @}' \
19793 # Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
19795 comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
19797 # Separate full debug info into debug binary.
19798 objcopy --only-keep-debug @var{binary} debug
19800 # Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
19801 # removing some unnecessary sections.
19802 objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
19803 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols debug mini_debuginfo
19805 # Drop the full debug info from the original binary.
19806 strip --strip-all -R .comment @var{binary}
19808 # Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
19811 objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
19815 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
19816 @cindex index files
19817 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
19819 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
19820 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
19821 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
19822 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
19823 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
19826 For convenience, @value{GDBN} comes with a program,
19827 @command{gdb-add-index}, which can be used to add the index to a
19828 symbol file. It takes the symbol file as its only argument:
19831 $ gdb-add-index symfile
19834 @xref{gdb-add-index}.
19836 It is also possible to do the work manually. Here is what
19837 @command{gdb-add-index} does behind the curtains.
19839 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
19840 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
19841 using @command{objcopy}.
19843 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
19846 @item save gdb-index [-dwarf-5] @var{directory}
19847 @kindex save gdb-index
19848 Create index files for all symbol files currently known by
19849 @value{GDBN}. For each known @var{symbol-file}, this command by
19850 default creates it produces a single file
19851 @file{@var{symbol-file}.gdb-index}. If you invoke this command with
19852 the @option{-dwarf-5} option, it produces 2 files:
19853 @file{@var{symbol-file}.debug_names} and
19854 @file{@var{symbol-file}.debug_str}. The files are created in the
19855 given @var{directory}.
19858 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
19859 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
19862 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
19863 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
19866 Or for @code{-dwarf-5}:
19869 $ objcopy --dump-section .debug_str=symfile.debug_str.new symfile
19870 $ cat symfile.debug_str >>symfile.debug_str.new
19871 $ objcopy --add-section .debug_names=symfile.gdb-index \
19872 --set-section-flags .debug_names=readonly \
19873 --update-section .debug_str=symfile.debug_str.new symfile symfile
19876 @value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
19877 sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
19878 they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
19879 To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
19880 specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
19881 The default is @code{off}.
19882 This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
19883 @xref{Index Section Format}.
19885 @emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
19886 must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
19889 $ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
19892 Instead you must do, for example,
19895 $ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
19898 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
19899 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
19900 currently work for programs using Ada.
19902 @node Symbol Errors
19903 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
19905 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
19906 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
19907 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
19908 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
19909 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
19910 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
19911 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
19912 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
19913 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
19914 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
19917 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
19920 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
19922 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
19923 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
19924 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
19925 in its outer scope blocks.
19927 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
19928 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
19929 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
19932 @item block at @var{address} out of order
19934 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
19935 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
19938 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
19939 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
19940 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
19941 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
19944 @item bad block start address patched
19946 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
19947 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
19948 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
19950 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
19951 starting on the previous source line.
19953 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
19956 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
19957 larger than the size of the string table.
19959 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
19960 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
19963 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
19965 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
19966 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
19967 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
19969 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
19970 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
19971 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
19972 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
19973 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
19974 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
19976 @item stub type has NULL name
19978 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
19980 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
19981 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
19982 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
19985 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
19987 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
19992 @section GDB Data Files
19994 @cindex prefix for data files
19995 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
19996 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
19998 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
19999 is currently using.
20002 @kindex set data-directory
20003 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
20004 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
20005 to @var{directory}.
20007 @kindex show data-directory
20008 @item show data-directory
20009 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
20012 @cindex default data directory
20013 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
20014 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
20015 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
20016 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
20017 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
20018 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
20021 The data directory may also be specified with the
20022 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
20023 @xref{Mode Options}.
20026 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
20028 @cindex debugging target
20029 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
20031 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
20032 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
20033 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
20034 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
20035 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
20036 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
20037 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
20038 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
20040 @cindex target architecture
20041 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
20042 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
20043 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
20047 @kindex set architecture
20048 @kindex show architecture
20049 @item set architecture @var{arch}
20050 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
20051 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
20052 supported architectures.
20054 @item show architecture
20055 Show the current target architecture.
20057 @item set processor
20059 @kindex set processor
20060 @kindex show processor
20061 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
20062 and @code{show architecture}.
20066 * Active Targets:: Active targets
20067 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
20068 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
20071 @node Active Targets
20072 @section Active Targets
20074 @cindex stacking targets
20075 @cindex active targets
20076 @cindex multiple targets
20078 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
20079 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
20080 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
20081 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
20082 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
20083 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
20084 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
20085 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
20086 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
20088 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
20089 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
20090 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
20091 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
20093 @node Target Commands
20094 @section Commands for Managing Targets
20097 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
20098 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
20099 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
20100 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
20101 protocol of the target machine.
20103 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
20104 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
20105 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
20107 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
20108 after executing the command.
20110 @kindex help target
20112 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
20113 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
20114 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
20116 @item help target @var{name}
20117 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
20120 @kindex set gnutarget
20121 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
20122 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
20123 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
20124 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
20125 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
20126 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
20129 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
20130 you must know the actual BFD name.
20134 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
20136 @kindex show gnutarget
20137 @item show gnutarget
20138 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
20139 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
20140 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
20141 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
20144 @cindex common targets
20145 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
20150 @item target exec @var{program}
20151 @cindex executable file target
20152 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
20153 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
20155 @item target core @var{filename}
20156 @cindex core dump file target
20157 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
20158 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
20160 @item target remote @var{medium}
20161 @cindex remote target
20162 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
20163 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
20164 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
20166 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
20167 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
20170 target remote /dev/ttya
20173 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
20174 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
20175 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
20176 clobbered by the download.
20178 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
20179 @cindex built-in simulator target
20180 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
20188 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
20189 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
20190 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
20191 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
20194 @item target native
20195 @cindex native target
20196 Setup for local/native process debugging. Useful to make the
20197 @code{run} command spawn native processes (likewise @code{attach},
20198 etc.@:) even when @code{set auto-connect-native-target} is @code{off}
20199 (@pxref{set auto-connect-native-target}).
20203 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
20204 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
20206 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
20207 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
20208 various aspects of this process.
20213 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
20214 @cindex hash mark while downloading
20215 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
20216 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
20217 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
20221 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
20222 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
20224 @item set debug monitor
20225 @kindex set debug monitor
20226 @cindex display remote monitor communications
20227 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
20228 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
20230 @item show debug monitor
20231 @kindex show debug monitor
20232 Show the current status of displaying communications between
20233 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
20238 @kindex load @var{filename} @var{offset}
20239 @item load @var{filename} @var{offset}
20241 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
20242 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
20243 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
20244 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
20245 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
20246 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
20248 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
20249 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
20250 target is @dots{}}''
20252 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
20253 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
20254 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
20255 specifies a fixed address.
20256 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
20258 It is also possible to tell @value{GDBN} to load the executable file at a
20259 specific offset described by the optional argument @var{offset}. When
20260 @var{offset} is provided, @var{filename} must also be provided.
20262 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
20263 load programs into flash memory.
20265 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
20270 @kindex flash-erase
20272 @anchor{flash-erase}
20274 Erases all known flash memory regions on the target.
20279 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
20281 @cindex choosing target byte order
20282 @cindex target byte order
20284 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
20285 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
20286 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
20287 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
20288 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
20289 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
20293 @item set endian big
20294 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
20296 @item set endian little
20297 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
20299 @item set endian auto
20300 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
20304 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
20308 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
20309 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
20313 @node Remote Debugging
20314 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
20315 @cindex remote debugging
20317 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
20318 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
20319 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
20320 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
20321 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
20323 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
20324 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
20325 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
20326 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
20327 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
20328 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
20330 Other remote targets may be available in your
20331 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
20334 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
20335 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
20336 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
20337 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
20338 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
20342 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
20343 @cindex remote debugging, connecting
20344 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, connecting
20345 @cindex remote debugging, types of connections
20346 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, types of connections
20347 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, @code{target remote} mode
20348 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, @code{target extended-remote} mode
20350 This section describes how to connect to a remote target, including the
20351 types of connections and their differences, how to set up executable and
20352 symbol files on the host and target, and the commands used for
20353 connecting to and disconnecting from the remote target.
20355 @subsection Types of Remote Connections
20357 @value{GDBN} supports two types of remote connections, @code{target remote}
20358 mode and @code{target extended-remote} mode. Note that many remote targets
20359 support only @code{target remote} mode. There are several major
20360 differences between the two types of connections, enumerated here:
20364 @cindex remote debugging, detach and program exit
20365 @item Result of detach or program exit
20366 @strong{With target remote mode:} When the debugged program exits or you
20367 detach from it, @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target. When using
20368 @code{gdbserver}, @code{gdbserver} will exit.
20370 @strong{With target extended-remote mode:} When the debugged program exits or
20371 you detach from it, @value{GDBN} remains connected to the target, even
20372 though no program is running. You can rerun the program, attach to a
20373 running program, or use @code{monitor} commands specific to the target.
20375 When using @code{gdbserver} in this case, it does not exit unless it was
20376 invoked using the @option{--once} option. If the @option{--once} option
20377 was not used, you can ask @code{gdbserver} to exit using the
20378 @code{monitor exit} command (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
20380 @item Specifying the program to debug
20381 For both connection types you use the @code{file} command to specify the
20382 program on the host system. If you are using @code{gdbserver} there are
20383 some differences in how to specify the location of the program on the
20386 @strong{With target remote mode:} You must either specify the program to debug
20387 on the @code{gdbserver} command line or use the @option{--attach} option
20388 (@pxref{Attaching to a program,,Attaching to a Running Program}).
20390 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
20391 @strong{With target extended-remote mode:} You may specify the program to debug
20392 on the @code{gdbserver} command line, or you can load the program or attach
20393 to it using @value{GDBN} commands after connecting to @code{gdbserver}.
20395 @anchor{--multi Option in Types of Remote Connnections}
20396 You can start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
20397 or process ID to attach. To do this, use the @option{--multi} command line
20398 option. Then you can connect using @code{target extended-remote} and start
20399 the program you want to debug (see below for details on using the
20400 @code{run} command in this scenario). Note that the conditions under which
20401 @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN} connects to it
20402 (@code{target remote} or @code{target extended-remote}). The
20403 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
20405 @item The @code{run} command
20406 @strong{With target remote mode:} The @code{run} command is not
20407 supported. Once a connection has been established, you can use all
20408 the usual @value{GDBN} commands to examine and change data. The
20409 remote program is already running, so you can use commands like
20410 @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}.
20412 @strong{With target extended-remote mode:} The @code{run} command is
20413 supported. The @code{run} command uses the value set by
20414 @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set remote exec-file}) to select
20415 the program to run. Command line arguments are supported, except for
20416 wildcard expansion and I/O redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
20418 If you specify the program to debug on the command line, then the
20419 @code{run} command is not required to start execution, and you can
20420 resume using commands like @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue} as with
20421 @code{target remote} mode.
20423 @anchor{Attaching in Types of Remote Connections}
20425 @strong{With target remote mode:} The @value{GDBN} command @code{attach} is
20426 not supported. To attach to a running program using @code{gdbserver}, you
20427 must use the @option{--attach} option (@pxref{Running gdbserver}).
20429 @strong{With target extended-remote mode:} To attach to a running program,
20430 you may use the @code{attach} command after the connection has been
20431 established. If you are using @code{gdbserver}, you may also invoke
20432 @code{gdbserver} using the @option{--attach} option
20433 (@pxref{Running gdbserver}).
20437 @anchor{Host and target files}
20438 @subsection Host and Target Files
20439 @cindex remote debugging, symbol files
20440 @cindex symbol files, remote debugging
20442 @value{GDBN}, running on the host, needs access to symbol and debugging
20443 information for your program running on the target. This requires
20444 access to an unstripped copy of your program, and possibly any associated
20445 symbol files. Note that this section applies equally to both @code{target
20446 remote} mode and @code{target extended-remote} mode.
20448 Some remote targets (@pxref{qXfer executable filename read}, and
20449 @pxref{Host I/O Packets}) allow @value{GDBN} to access program files over
20450 the same connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. With such a
20451 target, if the remote program is unstripped, the only command you need is
20452 @code{target remote} (or @code{target extended-remote}).
20454 If the remote program is stripped, or the target does not support remote
20455 program file access, start up @value{GDBN} using the name of the local
20456 unstripped copy of your program as the first argument, or use the
20457 @code{file} command. Use @code{set sysroot} to specify the location (on
20458 the host) of target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN} was compiled with
20459 the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}). Alternatively, you
20460 may use @code{set solib-search-path} to specify how @value{GDBN} locates
20463 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
20464 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
20465 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
20466 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
20467 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
20468 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
20471 @subsection Remote Connection Commands
20472 @cindex remote connection commands
20473 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
20474 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
20475 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
20476 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
20477 @code{target remote} and @code{target extended-remote} commands
20478 establish a connection to the target. Both commands accept the same
20479 arguments, which indicate the medium to use:
20483 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
20484 @itemx target extended-remote @var{serial-device}
20485 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
20486 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
20487 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
20490 target remote /dev/ttyb
20493 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
20494 @samp{--baud} option, or use the @code{set serial baud} command
20495 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set serial baud}) before the
20496 @code{target} command.
20498 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
20499 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
20500 @itemx target extended-remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
20501 @itemx target extended-remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
20502 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
20503 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
20504 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
20505 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
20506 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
20507 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
20510 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
20514 target remote manyfarms:2828
20517 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
20518 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
20519 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
20520 port 1234 on your local machine:
20523 target remote :1234
20527 Note that the colon is still required here.
20529 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
20530 @itemx target extended-remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
20531 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
20532 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
20533 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
20536 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
20539 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
20540 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
20541 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
20542 cause havoc with your debugging session.
20544 @item target remote | @var{command}
20545 @itemx target extended-remote | @var{command}
20546 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
20547 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
20548 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
20549 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
20550 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
20551 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
20552 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
20553 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
20555 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
20556 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
20557 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
20561 @cindex interrupting remote programs
20562 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
20563 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
20564 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
20565 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
20566 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
20567 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
20570 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
20571 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
20574 In @code{target remote} mode, if you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons
20575 the remote debugging session. (If you decide you want to try again later,
20576 you can use @kbd{target remote} again to connect once more.) If you type
20577 @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN} goes back to waiting.
20579 In @code{target extended-remote} mode, typing @kbd{n} will leave
20580 @value{GDBN} connected to the target.
20583 @kindex detach (remote)
20585 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
20586 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
20587 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
20588 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
20589 command in @code{target remote} mode, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to
20590 another target. In @code{target extended-remote} mode, @value{GDBN} is
20591 still connected to the target.
20595 The @code{disconnect} command closes the connection to the target, and
20596 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
20597 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
20598 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
20601 @cindex send command to remote monitor
20602 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
20603 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
20605 @item monitor @var{cmd}
20606 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
20607 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
20608 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
20609 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
20613 @node File Transfer
20614 @section Sending files to a remote system
20615 @cindex remote target, file transfer
20616 @cindex file transfer
20617 @cindex sending files to remote systems
20619 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
20620 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
20621 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
20622 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
20623 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
20624 the only way to upload or download files.
20626 Not all remote targets support these commands.
20630 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
20631 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
20632 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
20635 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
20636 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
20637 on the host system.
20639 @kindex remote delete
20640 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
20641 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
20646 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
20649 @cindex remote connection without stubs
20650 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
20651 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
20652 @code{target remote} or @code{target extended-remote}---but without
20653 linking in the usual debugging stub.
20655 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
20656 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
20657 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
20658 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
20659 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
20660 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
20661 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
20662 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
20663 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
20664 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
20665 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
20666 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
20667 choice for debugging.
20669 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
20670 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
20674 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
20675 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
20676 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
20677 target system with the same privileges as the user running
20681 @anchor{Running gdbserver}
20682 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
20683 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
20684 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
20686 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
20687 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
20688 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
20689 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
20690 system does all the symbol handling.
20692 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
20693 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
20697 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
20700 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
20701 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
20702 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
20703 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
20704 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
20708 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
20711 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
20714 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
20717 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
20720 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
20721 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
20722 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
20723 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
20724 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
20725 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
20726 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
20727 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
20728 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
20729 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
20730 @code{target remote} command.
20732 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
20736 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
20739 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
20740 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
20741 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
20742 You could elide it if you want to.
20744 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
20745 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
20746 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
20747 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
20749 @anchor{Attaching to a program}
20750 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
20751 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
20752 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
20754 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
20755 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
20758 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
20761 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
20762 necessary to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
20764 In @code{target extended-remote} mode, you can also attach using the
20765 @value{GDBN} attach command
20766 (@pxref{Attaching in Types of Remote Connections}).
20769 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
20770 @code{pidof} utility:
20773 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
20776 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
20777 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
20778 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
20780 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
20782 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP
20785 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
20786 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
20787 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
20788 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
20789 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
20790 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
20791 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
20792 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
20794 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
20795 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
20796 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
20798 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
20799 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
20800 subsequent connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
20801 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
20802 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
20803 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
20804 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
20805 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
20806 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
20807 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
20808 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
20809 instance closes its port after the first connection.
20811 @anchor{Other Command-Line Arguments for gdbserver}
20812 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
20814 You can use the @option{--multi} option to start @code{gdbserver} without
20815 specifying a program to debug or a process to attach to. Then you can
20816 attach in @code{target extended-remote} mode and run or attach to a
20817 program. For more information,
20818 @pxref{--multi Option in Types of Remote Connnections}.
20820 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
20821 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
20822 status information about the debugging process.
20823 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
20824 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
20825 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
20826 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
20828 @cindex @option{--debug-format}, @code{gdbserver} option
20829 The @option{--debug-format=option1[,option2,...]} option tells
20830 @code{gdbserver} to include additional information in each output.
20831 Possible options are:
20835 Turn off all extra information in debugging output.
20837 Turn on all extra information in debugging output.
20839 Include a timestamp in each line of debugging output.
20842 Options are processed in order. Thus, for example, if @option{none}
20843 appears last then no additional information is added to debugging output.
20845 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
20846 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
20847 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
20848 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
20849 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
20851 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
20852 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
20853 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
20854 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
20856 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
20857 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
20858 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
20859 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
20861 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
20862 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
20866 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
20869 @cindex @option{--selftest}
20870 The @option{--selftest} option runs the self tests in @code{gdbserver}:
20873 $ gdbserver --selftest
20874 Ran 2 unit tests, 0 failed
20877 These tests are disabled in release.
20878 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
20880 The basic procedure for connecting to the remote target is:
20884 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
20887 Make sure you have the necessary symbol files
20888 (@pxref{Host and target files}).
20889 Load symbols for your application using the @code{file} command before you
20890 connect. Use @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your
20891 @value{GDBN} was compiled with the correct sysroot using
20892 @code{--with-sysroot}).
20895 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
20896 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
20897 the @code{target} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
20898 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
20899 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
20900 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{target remote} mode, since the
20901 program is already on the target.
20905 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
20906 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
20907 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
20909 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
20910 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
20911 Here are the available commands.
20915 List the available monitor commands.
20917 @item monitor set debug 0
20918 @itemx monitor set debug 1
20919 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
20921 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
20922 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
20923 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
20924 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
20926 @item monitor set debug-format option1@r{[},option2,...@r{]}
20927 Specify additional text to add to debugging messages.
20928 Possible options are:
20932 Turn off all extra information in debugging output.
20934 Turn on all extra information in debugging output.
20936 Include a timestamp in each line of debugging output.
20939 Options are processed in order. Thus, for example, if @option{none}
20940 appears last then no additional information is added to debugging output.
20942 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
20943 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
20944 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
20945 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
20946 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
20947 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
20949 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
20950 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
20953 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
20954 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
20955 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
20956 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
20957 of a multi-process mode debug session.
20961 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
20962 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
20964 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
20965 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
20967 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
20968 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
20969 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
20970 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
20971 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
20972 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
20973 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
20974 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
20975 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
20976 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
20977 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
20978 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
20980 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
20983 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
20985 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
20986 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
20987 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
20989 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
20991 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
20992 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
20993 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
20994 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
20995 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
20996 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
20998 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
21000 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
21001 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
21002 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
21003 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
21004 command for that. For example:
21007 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
21010 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
21011 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
21014 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
21015 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
21016 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
21017 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
21018 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
21019 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
21020 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
21021 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
21022 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
21023 @code{gdbserver} like so:
21026 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
21029 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
21033 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
21034 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
21035 (@value{GDBP}) b main
21036 (@value{GDBP}) continue
21039 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
21040 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
21041 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
21042 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
21043 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
21046 @node Remote Configuration
21047 @section Remote Configuration
21050 @kindex show remote
21051 This section documents the configuration options available when
21052 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
21053 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
21054 system-call-allowed}.
21057 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
21058 @cindex address size for remote targets
21059 @cindex bits in remote address
21060 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
21061 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
21062 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
21063 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
21065 @item show remoteaddresssize
21066 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
21068 @item set serial baud @var{n}
21069 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
21070 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
21071 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
21074 @item show serial baud
21075 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
21077 @item set serial parity @var{parity}
21078 Set the parity for the remote serial I/O. Supported values of @var{parity} are:
21079 @code{even}, @code{none}, and @code{odd}. The default is @code{none}.
21081 @item show serial parity
21082 Show the current parity of the serial port.
21084 @item set remotebreak
21085 @cindex interrupt remote programs
21086 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
21087 @anchor{set remotebreak}
21088 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
21089 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
21090 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
21091 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
21092 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
21094 @item show remotebreak
21095 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
21096 interrupt the remote program.
21098 @item set remoteflow on
21099 @itemx set remoteflow off
21100 @kindex set remoteflow
21101 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
21102 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
21104 @item show remoteflow
21105 @kindex show remoteflow
21106 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
21108 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
21109 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
21110 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
21111 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
21114 @item show remotelogbase
21115 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
21118 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
21119 @cindex record serial communications on file
21120 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
21121 default is not to record at all.
21123 @item show remotelogfile.
21124 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
21125 serial communications.
21127 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
21128 @cindex timeout for serial communications
21129 @cindex remote timeout
21130 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
21131 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
21133 @item show remotetimeout
21134 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
21137 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
21138 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
21139 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
21140 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
21141 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
21142 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
21143 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
21144 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
21146 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
21147 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
21148 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
21149 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
21150 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
21151 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
21154 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
21155 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
21156 a remote hardware watchpoint.
21158 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
21159 @itemx show remote exec-file
21160 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
21161 @cindex executable file, for remote target
21162 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
21163 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
21164 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
21165 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
21167 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
21168 @cindex interrupt remote programs
21169 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
21170 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
21171 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
21172 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
21173 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
21174 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
21175 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
21176 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
21178 @item show interrupt-sequence
21179 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
21180 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
21181 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
21182 also known as Magic SysRq g.
21184 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
21185 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
21186 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
21187 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
21188 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
21189 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
21191 @item show interrupt-on-connect
21192 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
21193 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
21197 @item set tcp auto-retry on
21198 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
21199 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
21200 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
21201 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
21202 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
21203 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
21204 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
21205 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
21207 @item set tcp auto-retry off
21208 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
21210 @item show tcp auto-retry
21211 Show the current auto-retry setting.
21213 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
21214 @itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
21215 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
21216 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
21217 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
21218 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
21219 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
21220 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
21221 value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
21222 @value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
21223 unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
21225 @item show tcp connect-timeout
21226 Show the current connection timeout setting.
21229 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
21230 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
21231 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
21232 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
21233 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
21234 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
21235 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
21236 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
21237 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
21239 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
21240 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
21241 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
21242 @value{GDBN} developers.
21244 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
21245 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
21248 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
21251 @tab Related Features
21253 @item @code{fetch-register}
21255 @tab @code{info registers}
21257 @item @code{set-register}
21261 @item @code{binary-download}
21263 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
21265 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
21266 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
21267 @tab @code{info auxv}
21269 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
21270 @tab @code{qSymbol}
21271 @tab Detecting multiple threads
21273 @item @code{attach}
21274 @tab @code{vAttach}
21277 @item @code{verbose-resume}
21279 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
21285 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
21289 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
21293 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
21297 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
21301 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
21305 @item @code{pid-to-exec-file}
21306 @tab @code{qXfer:exec-file:read}
21307 @tab @code{attach}, @code{run}
21309 @item @code{target-features}
21310 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
21311 @tab @code{set architecture}
21313 @item @code{library-info}
21314 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
21315 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
21317 @item @code{memory-map}
21318 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
21319 @tab @code{info mem}
21321 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
21322 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
21323 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
21325 @item @code{read-spu-object}
21326 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
21327 @tab @code{info spu}
21329 @item @code{write-spu-object}
21330 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
21331 @tab @code{info spu}
21333 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
21334 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
21335 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
21337 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
21338 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
21339 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
21341 @item @code{threads}
21342 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
21343 @tab @code{info threads}
21345 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
21346 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
21347 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
21349 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
21350 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
21351 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
21353 @item @code{search-memory}
21354 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
21357 @item @code{supported-packets}
21358 @tab @code{qSupported}
21359 @tab Remote communications parameters
21361 @item @code{catch-syscalls}
21362 @tab @code{QCatchSyscalls}
21363 @tab @code{catch syscall}
21365 @item @code{pass-signals}
21366 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
21367 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
21369 @item @code{program-signals}
21370 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
21371 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
21373 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
21374 @tab @code{vFile:close}
21375 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
21377 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
21378 @tab @code{vFile:open}
21379 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
21381 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
21382 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
21383 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
21385 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
21386 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
21387 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
21389 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
21390 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
21391 @tab @code{remote delete}
21393 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
21394 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
21397 @item @code{hostio-fstat-packet}
21398 @tab @code{vFile:fstat}
21401 @item @code{hostio-setfs-packet}
21402 @tab @code{vFile:setfs}
21405 @item @code{noack-packet}
21406 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
21407 @tab Packet acknowledgment
21409 @item @code{osdata}
21410 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
21411 @tab @code{info os}
21413 @item @code{query-attached}
21414 @tab @code{qAttached}
21415 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
21417 @item @code{trace-buffer-size}
21418 @tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
21419 @tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
21421 @item @code{trace-status}
21422 @tab @code{qTStatus}
21423 @tab @code{tstatus}
21425 @item @code{traceframe-info}
21426 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
21427 @tab Traceframe info
21429 @item @code{install-in-trace}
21430 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
21431 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
21433 @item @code{disable-randomization}
21434 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
21435 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
21437 @item @code{startup-with-shell}
21438 @tab @code{QStartupWithShell}
21439 @tab @code{set startup-with-shell}
21441 @item @code{environment-hex-encoded}
21442 @tab @code{QEnvironmentHexEncoded}
21443 @tab @code{set environment}
21445 @item @code{environment-unset}
21446 @tab @code{QEnvironmentUnset}
21447 @tab @code{unset environment}
21449 @item @code{environment-reset}
21450 @tab @code{QEnvironmentReset}
21451 @tab @code{Reset the inferior environment (i.e., unset user-set variables)}
21453 @item @code{set-working-dir}
21454 @tab @code{QSetWorkingDir}
21455 @tab @code{set cwd}
21457 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
21458 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
21459 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
21461 @item @code{multiprocess-extensions}
21462 @tab @code{multiprocess extensions}
21463 @tab Debug multiple processes and remote process PID awareness
21465 @item @code{swbreak-feature}
21466 @tab @code{swbreak stop reason}
21469 @item @code{hwbreak-feature}
21470 @tab @code{hwbreak stop reason}
21473 @item @code{fork-event-feature}
21474 @tab @code{fork stop reason}
21477 @item @code{vfork-event-feature}
21478 @tab @code{vfork stop reason}
21481 @item @code{exec-event-feature}
21482 @tab @code{exec stop reason}
21485 @item @code{thread-events}
21486 @tab @code{QThreadEvents}
21487 @tab Tracking thread lifetime.
21489 @item @code{no-resumed-stop-reply}
21490 @tab @code{no resumed thread left stop reply}
21491 @tab Tracking thread lifetime.
21496 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
21498 @cindex debugging stub, example
21499 @cindex remote stub, example
21500 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
21501 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
21502 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
21503 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
21504 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
21505 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
21506 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
21507 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
21509 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
21510 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
21511 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
21512 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
21517 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
21518 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
21519 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
21522 A C subroutine library to support your program's
21523 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
21526 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
21527 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
21528 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
21532 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
21533 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
21534 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
21538 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
21539 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
21540 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
21542 @item On the target,
21543 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
21544 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
21545 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
21547 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
21548 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
21549 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
21552 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
21553 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
21556 @cindex remote serial stub list
21557 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
21562 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
21565 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
21568 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
21569 @cindex Motorola 680x0
21571 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
21574 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
21577 For Renesas SH architectures.
21580 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
21582 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
21584 @item sparcl-stub.c
21585 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
21588 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
21592 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
21593 recently added stubs.
21596 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
21597 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
21598 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
21601 @node Stub Contents
21602 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
21604 @cindex remote serial stub
21605 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
21609 @item set_debug_traps
21610 @findex set_debug_traps
21611 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
21612 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
21613 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
21614 program's startup code.
21616 @item handle_exception
21617 @findex handle_exception
21618 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
21619 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
21620 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
21621 run when a trap is triggered.
21623 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
21624 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
21625 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
21626 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
21627 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
21628 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
21629 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
21630 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
21631 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
21635 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
21636 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
21637 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
21638 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
21639 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
21640 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
21641 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
21642 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
21643 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
21644 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
21645 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
21647 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
21648 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
21649 start of your debugging session.
21652 @node Bootstrapping
21653 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
21655 @cindex remote stub, support routines
21656 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
21657 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
21658 debugging target machine.
21660 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
21664 @item int getDebugChar()
21665 @findex getDebugChar
21666 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
21667 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
21668 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
21670 @item void putDebugChar(int)
21671 @findex putDebugChar
21672 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
21673 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
21674 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
21677 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
21678 @cindex interrupting remote targets
21679 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
21680 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
21681 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
21682 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
21683 remote system to stop.
21685 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
21686 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
21687 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
21688 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
21690 Other routines you need to supply are:
21693 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
21694 @findex exceptionHandler
21695 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
21696 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
21697 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
21698 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
21699 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
21700 The @var{exception_number} specifies the exception which should be changed;
21701 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
21702 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
21703 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
21704 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
21705 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
21706 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
21707 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
21709 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
21710 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
21711 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
21712 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
21713 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
21715 @item void flush_i_cache()
21716 @findex flush_i_cache
21717 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
21718 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
21719 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
21721 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
21722 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
21726 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
21729 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
21731 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
21732 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
21733 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
21734 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
21737 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
21738 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
21739 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
21740 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
21743 @node Debug Session
21744 @subsection Putting it All Together
21746 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
21747 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
21752 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
21753 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
21755 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
21756 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
21760 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
21761 procedure is called:
21768 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
21769 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
21770 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
21771 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
21772 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
21773 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
21777 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
21778 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
21781 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
21785 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
21786 function in your program, that function is called when
21787 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
21788 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
21789 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
21792 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
21793 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
21796 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
21797 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
21800 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
21801 @c document that. FIXME.
21802 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
21803 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
21806 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
21807 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
21811 @node Configurations
21812 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
21814 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
21815 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
21816 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
21818 There are three major categories of configurations: native
21819 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
21820 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
21821 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
21822 are quite different from each other.
21827 * Embedded Processors::
21834 This section describes details specific to particular native
21838 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
21839 * Process Information:: Process information
21840 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
21841 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
21842 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
21843 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
21846 @node BSD libkvm Interface
21847 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
21850 @cindex kernel memory image
21851 @cindex kernel crash dump
21853 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
21854 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
21855 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
21856 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
21857 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
21858 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
21859 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
21863 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
21866 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
21870 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
21873 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
21879 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
21882 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
21883 modern FreeBSD systems.
21886 @node Process Information
21887 @subsection Process Information
21889 @cindex examine process image
21890 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
21892 Some operating systems provide interfaces to fetch additional
21893 information about running processes beyond memory and per-thread
21894 register state. If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system
21895 with a supported interface, the command @code{info proc} is available
21896 to report information about the process running your program, or about
21897 any process running on your system.
21899 One supported interface is a facility called @samp{/proc} that can be
21900 used to examine the image of a running process using file-system
21901 subroutines. This facility is supported on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris
21904 On FreeBSD systems, system control nodes are used to query process
21907 In addition, some systems may provide additional process information
21908 in core files. Note that a core file may include a subset of the
21909 information available from a live process. Process information is
21910 currently avaiable from cores created on @sc{gnu}/Linux and FreeBSD
21917 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
21918 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
21919 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
21920 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
21921 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
21922 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
21923 executable file's absolute file name.
21925 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
21926 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
21927 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
21928 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
21929 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
21930 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
21932 @item info proc cmdline
21933 @cindex info proc cmdline
21934 Show the original command line of the process. This command is
21935 supported on @sc{gnu}/Linux and FreeBSD.
21937 @item info proc cwd
21938 @cindex info proc cwd
21939 Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
21940 supported on @sc{gnu}/Linux and FreeBSD.
21942 @item info proc exe
21943 @cindex info proc exe
21944 Show the name of executable of the process. This command is supported
21945 on @sc{gnu}/Linux and FreeBSD.
21947 @item info proc mappings
21948 @cindex memory address space mappings
21949 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program. On
21950 Solaris and FreeBSD systems, each memory range includes information on
21951 whether the process has read, write, or execute access rights to each
21952 range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux and FreeBSD systems, each memory range
21953 includes the object file which is mapped to that range.
21955 @item info proc stat
21956 @itemx info proc status
21957 @cindex process detailed status information
21958 Show additional process-related information, including the user ID and
21959 group ID; virtual memory usage; the signals that are pending, blocked,
21960 and ignored; its TTY; its consumption of system and user time; its
21961 stack size; its @samp{nice} value; etc. These commands are supported
21962 on @sc{gnu}/Linux and FreeBSD.
21964 For @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, see the @samp{proc} man page for more
21965 information (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
21967 For FreeBSD systems, @code{info proc stat} is an alias for @code{info
21970 @item info proc all
21971 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
21972 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
21975 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
21976 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
21977 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
21978 @kindex info proc times
21979 @item info proc times
21980 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
21983 @kindex info proc id
21985 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
21986 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
21989 @item set procfs-trace
21990 @kindex set procfs-trace
21991 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
21992 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
21994 @item show procfs-trace
21995 @kindex show procfs-trace
21996 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
21998 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
21999 @kindex set procfs-file
22000 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
22001 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
22002 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
22005 @item show procfs-file
22006 @kindex show procfs-file
22007 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
22009 @item proc-trace-entry
22010 @itemx proc-trace-exit
22011 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
22012 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
22013 @kindex proc-trace-entry
22014 @kindex proc-trace-exit
22015 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
22016 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
22017 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
22018 from the @code{syscall} interface.
22021 @kindex info pidlist
22022 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
22023 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
22024 processes and all the threads within each process.
22027 @kindex info meminfo
22028 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
22029 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
22033 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
22034 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
22035 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
22036 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
22039 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
22040 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
22041 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
22042 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
22044 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
22045 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
22046 subsection describes those commands.
22051 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
22052 information about the target system and important OS structures.
22055 @cindex MS-DOS system info
22056 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
22057 @item info dos sysinfo
22058 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
22059 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
22060 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
22065 @cindex segment descriptor tables
22066 @cindex descriptor tables display
22068 @itemx info dos ldt
22069 @itemx info dos idt
22070 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
22071 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
22072 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
22073 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
22074 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
22075 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
22078 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
22079 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
22080 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
22081 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
22082 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
22084 @cindex garbled pointers
22085 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
22086 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
22087 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
22088 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
22089 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
22090 debugged program's data segment:
22093 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
22094 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
22098 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
22099 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
22101 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
22103 @itemx info dos pte
22104 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
22105 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
22106 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
22107 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
22108 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
22109 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
22110 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
22111 that is currently in use.
22113 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
22114 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
22115 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
22116 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
22117 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
22118 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
22119 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
22121 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
22122 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
22123 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
22126 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
22128 @cindex physical address from linear address
22129 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
22130 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
22131 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
22132 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
22133 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
22134 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
22135 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
22138 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
22139 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
22140 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
22144 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
22145 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
22146 attributes of that page.
22148 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
22149 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
22150 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
22151 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
22152 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
22153 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
22155 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
22159 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
22160 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
22161 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
22165 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
22166 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
22167 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
22168 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
22169 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
22171 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
22174 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
22175 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
22176 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
22177 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
22180 @kindex set com1base
22181 @kindex set com1irq
22182 @kindex set com2base
22183 @kindex set com2irq
22184 @kindex set com3base
22185 @kindex set com3irq
22186 @kindex set com4base
22187 @kindex set com4irq
22188 @item set com1base @var{addr}
22189 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
22192 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
22193 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
22194 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
22196 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
22197 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
22200 @kindex show com1base
22201 @kindex show com1irq
22202 @kindex show com2base
22203 @kindex show com2irq
22204 @kindex show com3base
22205 @kindex show com3irq
22206 @kindex show com4base
22207 @kindex show com4irq
22208 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
22209 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
22210 lines used by the COM ports.
22213 @kindex info serial
22214 @cindex DOS serial port status
22215 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
22216 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
22217 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
22218 counts of various errors encountered so far.
22222 @node Cygwin Native
22223 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
22224 @cindex MS Windows debugging
22225 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
22226 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
22228 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
22229 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
22231 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
22232 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
22233 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
22234 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
22235 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
22236 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
22237 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
22240 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
22241 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
22242 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
22247 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
22248 information about the target system and important OS structures.
22250 @item info w32 selector
22251 This command displays information returned by
22252 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
22253 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
22254 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
22255 Without argument, this command displays information
22256 about the six segment registers.
22258 @item info w32 thread-information-block
22259 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
22260 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
22261 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
22263 @kindex signal-event
22264 @item signal-event @var{id}
22265 This command signals an event with user-provided @var{id}. Used to resume
22266 crashing process when attached to it using MS-Windows JIT debugging (AeDebug).
22268 To use it, create or edit the following keys in
22269 @code{HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AeDebug} and/or
22270 @code{HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AeDebug}
22271 (for x86_64 versions):
22275 @code{Debugger} (REG_SZ) --- a command to launch the debugger.
22276 Suggested command is: @code{@var{fully-qualified-path-to-gdb.exe} -ex
22277 "attach %ld" -ex "signal-event %ld" -ex "continue"}.
22279 The first @code{%ld} will be replaced by the process ID of the
22280 crashing process, the second @code{%ld} will be replaced by the ID of
22281 the event that blocks the crashing process, waiting for @value{GDBN}
22285 @code{Auto} (REG_SZ) --- either @code{1} or @code{0}. @code{1} will
22286 make the system run debugger specified by the Debugger key
22287 automatically, @code{0} will cause a dialog box with ``OK'' and
22288 ``Cancel'' buttons to appear, which allows the user to either
22289 terminate the crashing process (OK) or debug it (Cancel).
22292 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
22293 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
22294 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
22295 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
22296 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
22297 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
22298 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
22299 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
22300 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
22301 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
22302 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
22304 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
22305 @item show cygwin-exceptions
22306 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
22307 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
22309 @kindex set new-console
22310 @item set new-console @var{mode}
22311 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
22312 be started in a new console on next start.
22313 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
22314 be started in the same console as the debugger.
22316 @kindex show new-console
22317 @item show new-console
22318 Displays whether a new console is used
22319 when the debuggee is started.
22321 @kindex set new-group
22322 @item set new-group @var{mode}
22323 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
22324 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
22325 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
22328 @kindex show new-group
22329 @item show new-group
22330 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
22332 @kindex set debugevents
22333 @item set debugevents
22334 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
22335 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
22336 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
22337 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
22338 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
22340 @kindex set debugexec
22341 @item set debugexec
22342 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
22343 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
22345 @kindex set debugexceptions
22346 @item set debugexceptions
22347 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
22348 debuggee seen by the debugger.
22350 @kindex set debugmemory
22351 @item set debugmemory
22352 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
22353 and writes by the debugger.
22357 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
22358 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
22362 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
22367 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
22370 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
22371 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
22372 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
22373 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
22375 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
22376 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
22377 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
22378 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
22379 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
22380 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
22381 ``minimal symbols''.
22383 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
22384 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
22385 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
22386 program run once to completion.
22388 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
22390 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
22391 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
22392 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
22393 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
22394 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
22395 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
22396 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
22397 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
22398 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
22400 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
22401 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
22402 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
22403 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
22404 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
22405 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
22408 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
22409 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
22411 Non-debugging symbols:
22412 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
22413 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
22417 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
22418 All functions matching regular expression "!":
22420 Non-debugging symbols:
22421 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
22422 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
22423 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
22427 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
22429 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
22430 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
22431 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
22432 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
22433 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
22434 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
22435 a function within a DLL without a running program.
22437 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
22438 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
22439 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
22440 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
22444 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
22445 'cygwin1!__argv' has unknown type; cast it to its declared type
22449 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
22450 'cygwin1!__argv' has unknown type; cast it to its declared type
22453 And two possible solutions:
22456 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
22457 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
22461 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
22462 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
22463 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
22464 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
22465 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
22466 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
22469 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
22470 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
22471 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
22472 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
22473 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
22476 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
22477 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
22480 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
22481 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
22485 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
22486 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
22488 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
22489 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
22494 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
22495 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
22496 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
22497 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
22498 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
22503 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
22504 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
22505 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
22507 @item set signal-thread
22508 @itemx set sigthread
22509 @kindex set signal-thread
22510 @kindex set sigthread
22511 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
22512 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
22513 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
22516 @item show signal-thread
22517 @itemx show sigthread
22518 @kindex show signal-thread
22519 @kindex show sigthread
22520 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
22521 delivered a signal.
22524 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
22525 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
22526 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
22527 continued by delivering a signal to it.
22530 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
22531 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
22534 @item set exceptions
22535 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
22536 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
22537 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
22538 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
22541 @item show exceptions
22542 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
22543 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
22545 @item set task pause
22546 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
22547 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
22548 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
22549 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
22550 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
22551 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
22552 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
22553 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
22554 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
22556 @item show task pause
22557 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
22558 Show the current state of task suspension.
22560 @item set task detach-suspend-count
22561 @cindex task suspend count
22562 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22563 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
22564 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
22566 @item show task detach-suspend-count
22567 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
22569 @item set task exception-port
22570 @itemx set task excp
22571 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22572 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
22573 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
22574 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
22576 @item set noninvasive
22577 @cindex noninvasive task options
22578 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
22579 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
22580 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
22581 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
22583 @item info send-rights
22584 @itemx info receive-rights
22585 @itemx info port-rights
22586 @itemx info port-sets
22587 @itemx info dead-names
22590 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22591 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22592 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22593 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22594 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22595 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
22596 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
22597 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
22598 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
22600 @item set thread pause
22601 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
22602 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22603 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
22604 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
22605 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
22606 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
22607 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
22608 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
22609 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
22610 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
22611 only the current thread.
22613 @item show thread pause
22614 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
22615 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
22617 @item set thread run
22618 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
22620 @item show thread run
22621 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
22623 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
22624 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22625 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22626 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
22627 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
22628 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
22629 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
22631 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
22632 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
22635 @item set thread exception-port
22636 @itemx set thread excp
22637 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
22638 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
22639 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
22641 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
22642 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
22643 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
22644 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
22646 @item set thread default
22647 @itemx show thread default
22648 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
22649 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
22650 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
22651 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
22652 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
22653 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
22654 the non-default commands.
22661 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
22664 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
22665 @kindex set debug darwin
22666 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
22667 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
22669 @item show debug darwin
22670 @kindex show debug darwin
22671 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
22673 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
22674 @kindex set debug mach-o
22675 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
22676 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
22677 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
22678 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
22679 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
22682 @item show debug mach-o
22683 @kindex show debug mach-o
22684 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
22686 @item set mach-exceptions on
22687 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
22688 @kindex set mach-exceptions
22689 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
22690 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
22691 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
22692 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
22694 @item show mach-exceptions
22695 @kindex show mach-exceptions
22696 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
22701 @section Embedded Operating Systems
22703 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
22704 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
22707 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
22708 various real-time operating systems.
22710 @node Embedded Processors
22711 @section Embedded Processors
22713 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
22716 @cindex send command to simulator
22717 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
22718 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
22721 @item sim @var{command}
22722 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
22723 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
22724 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
22725 acceptable commands.
22730 * ARC:: Synopsys ARC
22732 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
22733 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
22734 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
22735 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRISC 1000 (or1k)
22736 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
22739 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
22743 @subsection Synopsys ARC
22744 @cindex Synopsys ARC
22745 @cindex ARC specific commands
22751 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARC-specific commands:
22754 @item set debug arc
22755 @kindex set debug arc
22756 Control the level of ARC specific debug messages. Use 0 for no messages (the
22757 default), 1 for debug messages, and 2 for even more debug messages.
22759 @item show debug arc
22760 @kindex show debug arc
22761 Show the level of ARC specific debugging in operation.
22763 @item maint print arc arc-instruction @var{address}
22764 @kindex maint print arc arc-instruction
22765 Print internal disassembler information about instruction at a given address.
22772 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
22775 @item set arm disassembler
22777 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
22778 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
22780 @item show arm disassembler
22782 Show the current disassembly style.
22784 @item set arm apcs32
22785 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
22786 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
22788 @item show arm apcs32
22789 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
22791 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
22792 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
22793 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
22797 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
22799 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
22802 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
22804 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
22810 Show the current type of the FPU.
22813 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
22816 Show the currently used ABI.
22818 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
22819 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
22820 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
22821 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
22822 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
22823 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
22826 @item show arm fallback-mode
22827 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
22829 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
22830 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
22831 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
22832 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
22833 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
22835 @item show arm force-mode
22836 Show the current forced instruction mode.
22838 @item set debug arm
22839 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
22840 target support subsystem.
22842 @item show debug arm
22843 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
22847 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
22848 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
22851 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
22852 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support. The argument
22853 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
22854 The default value is @code{all}.
22869 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support.
22872 @subsection MicroBlaze
22873 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
22874 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
22876 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
22877 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
22878 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
22879 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
22880 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
22881 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
22882 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
22883 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
22884 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
22885 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
22886 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
22888 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
22891 @item target remote :1234
22892 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
22893 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
22895 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
22896 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
22897 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
22900 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
22902 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
22903 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
22905 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
22906 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
22909 @node MIPS Embedded
22910 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
22913 @value{GDBN} supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
22916 @item set mipsfpu double
22917 @itemx set mipsfpu single
22918 @itemx set mipsfpu none
22919 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
22920 @itemx show mipsfpu
22921 @kindex set mipsfpu
22922 @kindex show mipsfpu
22923 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
22924 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
22925 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
22926 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
22927 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
22928 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
22929 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
22930 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
22931 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
22932 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
22933 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
22934 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
22935 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
22937 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
22938 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
22939 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
22941 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
22942 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
22945 @node OpenRISC 1000
22946 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
22947 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
22950 The OpenRISC 1000 provides a free RISC instruction set architecture. It is
22951 mainly provided as a soft-core which can run on Xilinx, Altera and other
22954 @value{GDBN} for OpenRISC supports the below commands when connecting to
22962 Runs the builtin CPU simulator which can run very basic
22963 programs but does not support most hardware functions like MMU.
22964 For more complex use cases the user is advised to run an external
22965 target, and connect using @samp{target remote}.
22967 Example: @code{target sim}
22969 @item set debug or1k
22970 Toggle whether to display OpenRISC-specific debugging messages from the
22971 OpenRISC target support subsystem.
22973 @item show debug or1k
22974 Show whether OpenRISC-specific debugging messages are enabled.
22977 @node PowerPC Embedded
22978 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
22980 @cindex DVC register
22981 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
22982 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
22985 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
22986 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
22989 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
22990 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
22991 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
22992 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
22993 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
22996 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
22997 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
22998 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
22999 watching variables of scalar types.
23001 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
23002 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
23005 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
23006 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
23009 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
23010 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
23012 @cindex ranged breakpoint
23013 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
23014 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
23015 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
23016 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
23017 use the @code{break-range} command.
23019 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
23022 @kindex break-range
23023 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
23024 Set a breakpoint for an address range given by
23025 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}, which can specify a function name,
23026 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
23027 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
23028 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
23029 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
23030 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
23031 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
23033 @kindex set powerpc
23034 @item set powerpc soft-float
23035 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
23036 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
23037 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
23038 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
23040 @item set powerpc vector-abi
23041 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
23042 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
23043 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
23044 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
23045 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
23046 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
23047 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
23049 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
23050 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
23051 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
23052 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
23053 address of its first byte.
23058 @subsection Atmel AVR
23061 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
23062 following AVR-specific commands:
23065 @item info io_registers
23066 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
23067 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
23068 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
23069 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
23076 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
23077 following CRIS-specific commands:
23080 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
23081 @cindex CRIS version
23082 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
23083 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
23084 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
23086 @item show cris-version
23087 Show the current CRIS version.
23089 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
23090 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
23091 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
23092 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
23095 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
23096 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
23098 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
23100 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
23101 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
23102 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
23104 @item show cris-mode
23105 Show the current CRIS mode.
23109 @subsection Renesas Super-H
23112 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
23116 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
23117 @kindex set sh calling-convention
23118 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
23119 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
23120 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
23121 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
23122 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
23123 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
23124 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
23125 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
23126 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
23127 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
23129 @item show sh calling-convention
23130 @kindex show sh calling-convention
23131 Show the current calling convention setting.
23136 @node Architectures
23137 @section Architectures
23139 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
23140 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
23147 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
23148 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
23155 @subsection AArch64
23156 @cindex AArch64 support
23158 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
23159 following special commands:
23162 @item set debug aarch64
23163 @kindex set debug aarch64
23164 This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
23165 messages are to be displayed.
23167 @item show debug aarch64
23168 Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
23173 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
23176 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
23177 @kindex set struct-convention
23178 @cindex struct return convention
23179 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
23180 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
23181 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
23182 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
23183 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
23184 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
23185 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
23186 be returned in a register.
23188 @item show struct-convention
23189 @kindex show struct-convention
23190 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
23195 @subsubsection Intel @dfn{Memory Protection Extensions} (MPX).
23196 @cindex Intel Memory Protection Extensions (MPX).
23198 Memory Protection Extension (MPX) adds the bound registers @samp{BND0}
23199 @footnote{The register named with capital letters represent the architecture
23200 registers.} through @samp{BND3}. Bound registers store a pair of 64-bit values
23201 which are the lower bound and upper bound. Bounds are effective addresses or
23202 memory locations. The upper bounds are architecturally represented in 1's
23203 complement form. A bound having lower bound = 0, and upper bound = 0
23204 (1's complement of all bits set) will allow access to the entire address space.
23206 @samp{BND0} through @samp{BND3} are represented in @value{GDBN} as @samp{bnd0raw}
23207 through @samp{bnd3raw}. Pseudo registers @samp{bnd0} through @samp{bnd3}
23208 display the upper bound performing the complement of one operation on the
23209 upper bound value, i.e.@ when upper bound in @samp{bnd0raw} is 0 in the
23210 @value{GDBN} @samp{bnd0} it will be @code{0xfff@dots{}}. In this sense it
23211 can also be noted that the upper bounds are inclusive.
23213 As an example, assume that the register BND0 holds bounds for a pointer having
23214 access allowed for the range between 0x32 and 0x71. The values present on
23215 bnd0raw and bnd registers are presented as follows:
23218 bnd0raw = @{0x32, 0xffffffff8e@}
23219 bnd0 = @{lbound = 0x32, ubound = 0x71@} : size 64
23222 This way the raw value can be accessed via bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw. Any
23223 change on bnd0@dots{}bnd3 or bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw is reflect on its
23224 counterpart. When the bnd0@dots{}bnd3 registers are displayed via
23225 Python, the display includes the memory size, in bits, accessible to
23228 Bounds can also be stored in bounds tables, which are stored in
23229 application memory. These tables store bounds for pointers by specifying
23230 the bounds pointer's value along with its bounds. Evaluating and changing
23231 bounds located in bound tables is therefore interesting while investigating
23232 bugs on MPX context. @value{GDBN} provides commands for this purpose:
23235 @item show mpx bound @var{pointer}
23236 @kindex show mpx bound
23237 Display bounds of the given @var{pointer}.
23239 @item set mpx bound @var{pointer}, @var{lbound}, @var{ubound}
23240 @kindex set mpx bound
23241 Set the bounds of a pointer in the bound table.
23242 This command takes three parameters: @var{pointer} is the pointers
23243 whose bounds are to be changed, @var{lbound} and @var{ubound} are new values
23244 for lower and upper bounds respectively.
23247 When you call an inferior function on an Intel MPX enabled program,
23248 GDB sets the inferior's bound registers to the init (disabled) state
23249 before calling the function. As a consequence, bounds checks for the
23250 pointer arguments passed to the function will always pass.
23252 This is necessary because when you call an inferior function, the
23253 program is usually in the middle of the execution of other function.
23254 Since at that point bound registers are in an arbitrary state, not
23255 clearing them would lead to random bound violations in the called
23258 You can still examine the influence of the bound registers on the
23259 execution of the called function by stopping the execution of the
23260 called function at its prologue, setting bound registers, and
23261 continuing the execution. For example:
23265 Breakpoint 2 at 0x4009de: file i386-mpx-call.c, line 47.
23266 $ print upper (a, b, c, d, 1)
23267 Breakpoint 2, upper (a=0x0, b=0x6e0000005b, c=0x0, d=0x0, len=48)....
23269 @{lbound = 0x0, ubound = ffffffff@} : size -1
23272 At this last step the value of bnd0 can be changed for investigation of bound
23273 violations caused along the execution of the call. In order to know how to
23274 set the bound registers or bound table for the call consult the ABI.
23279 See the following section.
23282 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
23284 @cindex stack on Alpha
23285 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
23286 @cindex Alpha stack
23287 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
23288 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
23289 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
23290 find the beginning of a function.
23292 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
23293 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
23294 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
23295 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
23299 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
23300 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
23301 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
23302 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
23303 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
23304 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
23305 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
23306 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
23308 @item show heuristic-fence-post
23309 Display the current limit.
23313 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
23314 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
23316 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
23320 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
23321 @kindex set mips abi
23322 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
23323 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
23324 values of @var{arg} are:
23328 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
23338 @item show mips abi
23339 @kindex show mips abi
23340 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
23342 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
23343 @kindex set mips compression
23344 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
23345 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
23346 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
23347 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
23348 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
23349 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
23350 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
23351 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
23352 provided by the executable.
23354 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
23355 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
23356 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
23357 identified as such.
23359 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
23360 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
23361 implicitly from an executable.
23363 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
23364 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
23365 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
23366 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
23367 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
23369 @item show mips compression
23370 @kindex show mips compression
23371 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
23372 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
23375 @itemx show mipsfpu
23376 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
23378 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
23379 @kindex set mips mask-address
23380 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
23381 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
23382 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
23383 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
23384 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
23386 @item show mips mask-address
23387 @kindex show mips mask-address
23388 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
23391 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
23392 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
23393 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
23394 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
23395 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
23396 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
23398 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
23399 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
23400 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
23402 @item set debug mips
23403 @kindex set debug mips
23404 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
23405 target code in @value{GDBN}.
23407 @item show debug mips
23408 @kindex show debug mips
23409 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
23415 @cindex HPPA support
23417 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
23418 following special commands:
23421 @item set debug hppa
23422 @kindex set debug hppa
23423 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
23424 messages are to be displayed.
23426 @item show debug hppa
23427 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
23429 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
23430 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
23431 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
23432 given @var{address}.
23438 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
23439 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
23442 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
23443 it provides the following special commands:
23446 @item info spu event
23448 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
23449 and pending event status.
23451 @item info spu signal
23452 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
23453 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
23454 notification channels.
23456 @item info spu mailbox
23457 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
23458 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
23459 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
23462 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
23463 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
23464 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
23466 @item info spu proxydma
23467 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
23468 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
23469 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
23473 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
23474 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
23478 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
23480 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
23481 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
23482 function. The default is @code{off}.
23484 @item show spu stop-on-load
23486 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
23488 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
23489 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
23490 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
23491 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
23492 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
23493 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
23495 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
23496 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
23501 @subsection PowerPC
23502 @cindex PowerPC architecture
23504 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
23505 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
23506 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
23507 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
23508 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
23510 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
23511 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
23512 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
23514 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
23515 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
23518 @subsection Nios II
23519 @cindex Nios II architecture
23521 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
23522 it provides the following special commands:
23526 @item set debug nios2
23527 @kindex set debug nios2
23528 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
23529 target code in @value{GDBN}.
23531 @item show debug nios2
23532 @kindex show debug nios2
23533 Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
23537 @subsection Sparc64
23538 @cindex Sparc64 support
23539 @cindex Application Data Integrity
23540 @subsubsection ADI Support
23542 The M7 processor supports an Application Data Integrity (ADI) feature that
23543 detects invalid data accesses. When software allocates memory and enables
23544 ADI on the allocated memory, it chooses a 4-bit version number, sets the
23545 version in the upper 4 bits of the 64-bit pointer to that data, and stores
23546 the 4-bit version in every cacheline of that data. Hardware saves the latter
23547 in spare bits in the cache and memory hierarchy. On each load and store,
23548 the processor compares the upper 4 VA (virtual address) bits to the
23549 cacheline's version. If there is a mismatch, the processor generates a
23550 version mismatch trap which can be either precise or disrupting. The trap
23551 is an error condition which the kernel delivers to the process as a SIGSEGV
23554 Note that only 64-bit applications can use ADI and need to be built with
23557 Values of the ADI version tags, which are in granularity of a
23558 cacheline (64 bytes), can be viewed or modified.
23562 @kindex adi examine
23563 @item adi (examine | x) [ / @var{n} ] @var{addr}
23565 The @code{adi examine} command displays the value of one ADI version tag per
23568 @var{n} is a decimal integer specifying the number in bytes; the default
23569 is 1. It specifies how much ADI version information, at the ratio of 1:ADI
23570 block size, to display.
23572 @var{addr} is the address in user address space where you want @value{GDBN}
23573 to begin displaying the ADI version tags.
23575 Below is an example of displaying ADI versions of variable "shmaddr".
23578 (@value{GDBP}) adi x/100 shmaddr
23579 0xfff800010002c000: 0 0
23583 @item adi (assign | a) [ / @var{n} ] @var{addr} = @var{tag}
23585 The @code{adi assign} command is used to assign new ADI version tag
23588 @var{n} is a decimal integer specifying the number in bytes;
23589 the default is 1. It specifies how much ADI version information, at the
23590 ratio of 1:ADI block size, to modify.
23592 @var{addr} is the address in user address space where you want @value{GDBN}
23593 to begin modifying the ADI version tags.
23595 @var{tag} is the new ADI version tag.
23597 For example, do the following to modify then verify ADI versions of
23598 variable "shmaddr":
23601 (@value{GDBP}) adi a/100 shmaddr = 7
23602 (@value{GDBP}) adi x/100 shmaddr
23603 0xfff800010002c000: 7 7
23608 @node Controlling GDB
23609 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
23611 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
23612 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
23613 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
23618 * Editing:: Command editing
23619 * Command History:: Command history
23620 * Screen Size:: Screen size
23621 * Numbers:: Numbers
23622 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
23623 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
23624 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
23625 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
23626 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
23634 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
23635 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
23636 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
23637 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
23638 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
23639 which one you are talking to.
23641 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
23642 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
23643 or a prompt that does not.
23647 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
23648 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
23650 @kindex show prompt
23652 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
23655 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
23656 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
23660 @kindex set extended-prompt
23661 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
23662 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
23663 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
23664 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
23665 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
23671 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
23674 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
23675 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
23677 @kindex show extended-prompt
23678 @item show extended-prompt
23679 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
23680 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
23681 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
23685 @section Command Editing
23687 @cindex command line editing
23689 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
23690 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
23691 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
23692 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
23693 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
23694 debugging sessions.
23696 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
23697 command @code{set}.
23700 @kindex set editing
23703 @itemx set editing on
23704 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
23706 @item set editing off
23707 Disable command line editing.
23709 @kindex show editing
23711 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
23714 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
23715 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
23717 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
23718 @xref{Command Line Editing},
23720 for more details about the Readline
23721 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
23722 encouraged to read that chapter.
23724 @node Command History
23725 @section Command History
23726 @cindex command history
23728 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
23729 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
23730 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
23733 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
23734 package, to provide the history facility.
23735 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
23736 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
23738 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
23739 @xref{Using History Interactively},
23741 for the detailed description of the History library.
23743 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
23744 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
23745 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
23746 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
23747 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
23748 pressed on a line by itself.
23750 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
23751 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
23752 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
23753 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
23755 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
23759 @cindex history substitution
23760 @cindex history file
23761 @kindex set history filename
23762 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
23763 @item set history filename @var{fname}
23764 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
23765 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
23766 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
23767 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
23768 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
23769 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
23770 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
23773 @cindex save command history
23774 @kindex set history save
23775 @item set history save
23776 @itemx set history save on
23777 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
23778 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
23780 @item set history save off
23781 Stop recording command history in a file.
23783 @cindex history size
23784 @kindex set history size
23785 @cindex @env{GDBHISTSIZE}, environment variable
23786 @item set history size @var{size}
23787 @itemx set history size unlimited
23788 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
23789 This defaults to the value of the environment variable @env{GDBHISTSIZE}, or
23790 to 256 if this variable is not set. Non-numeric values of @env{GDBHISTSIZE}
23791 are ignored. If @var{size} is @code{unlimited} or if @env{GDBHISTSIZE} is
23792 either a negative number or the empty string, then the number of commands
23793 @value{GDBN} keeps in the history list is unlimited.
23795 @cindex remove duplicate history
23796 @kindex set history remove-duplicates
23797 @item set history remove-duplicates @var{count}
23798 @itemx set history remove-duplicates unlimited
23799 Control the removal of duplicate history entries in the command history list.
23800 If @var{count} is non-zero, @value{GDBN} will look back at the last @var{count}
23801 history entries and remove the first entry that is a duplicate of the current
23802 entry being added to the command history list. If @var{count} is
23803 @code{unlimited} then this lookbehind is unbounded. If @var{count} is 0, then
23804 removal of duplicate history entries is disabled.
23806 Only history entries added during the current session are considered for
23807 removal. This option is set to 0 by default.
23811 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
23812 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
23813 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
23815 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
23816 @xref{Event Designators},
23820 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
23821 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
23822 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
23823 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
23824 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
23825 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
23826 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
23827 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
23829 The commands to control history expansion are:
23832 @item set history expansion on
23833 @itemx set history expansion
23834 @kindex set history expansion
23835 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
23837 @item set history expansion off
23838 Disable history expansion.
23841 @kindex show history
23843 @itemx show history filename
23844 @itemx show history save
23845 @itemx show history size
23846 @itemx show history expansion
23847 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
23848 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
23853 @kindex show commands
23854 @cindex show last commands
23855 @cindex display command history
23856 @item show commands
23857 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
23859 @item show commands @var{n}
23860 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
23862 @item show commands +
23863 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
23867 @section Screen Size
23868 @cindex size of screen
23869 @cindex screen size
23872 @cindex pauses in output
23874 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
23875 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
23876 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
23877 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
23878 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
23879 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
23880 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
23881 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
23883 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
23884 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
23885 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
23886 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
23887 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
23894 @kindex show height
23895 @item set height @var{lpp}
23896 @itemx set height unlimited
23898 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
23899 @itemx set width unlimited
23901 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
23902 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
23903 commands display the current settings.
23905 If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
23906 @value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
23907 output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
23910 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
23911 width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
23913 @item set pagination on
23914 @itemx set pagination off
23915 @kindex set pagination
23916 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
23917 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
23918 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
23919 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
23921 @item show pagination
23922 @kindex show pagination
23923 Show the current pagination mode.
23928 @cindex number representation
23929 @cindex entering numbers
23931 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
23932 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
23933 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
23934 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
23935 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
23936 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
23937 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
23938 both input and output with the commands described below.
23941 @kindex set input-radix
23942 @item set input-radix @var{base}
23943 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
23944 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. The base must itself be
23945 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
23949 set input-radix 012
23950 set input-radix 10.
23951 set input-radix 0xa
23955 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
23956 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
23957 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
23958 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
23959 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
23962 @kindex set output-radix
23963 @item set output-radix @var{base}
23964 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
23965 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. The base must itself be
23966 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
23968 @kindex show input-radix
23969 @item show input-radix
23970 Display the current default base for numeric input.
23972 @kindex show output-radix
23973 @item show output-radix
23974 Display the current default base for numeric display.
23976 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
23980 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
23981 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
23982 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
23983 default value of 10.
23988 @section Configuring the Current ABI
23990 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
23991 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
23992 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
23998 @cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
24000 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
24001 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
24002 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
24003 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
24004 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
24005 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
24006 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
24009 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
24010 ``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
24011 @code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
24012 The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
24016 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
24019 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
24021 @item set osabi @var{abi}
24022 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
24025 @cindex float promotion
24027 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
24028 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
24029 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
24030 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
24031 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
24032 @code{double} and then passed.
24034 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
24035 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
24036 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
24039 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
24040 @item set coerce-float-to-double
24041 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
24042 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
24043 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
24045 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
24046 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
24049 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
24050 @item show coerce-float-to-double
24051 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
24055 @kindex show cp-abi
24056 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
24057 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
24058 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
24059 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
24060 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
24061 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
24062 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
24063 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
24064 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
24065 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
24070 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
24073 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
24075 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
24076 @itemx set cp-abi auto
24077 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
24081 @section Automatically loading associated files
24082 @cindex auto-loading
24084 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
24085 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
24086 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
24087 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
24088 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
24092 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
24093 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
24095 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
24096 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
24099 There are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load.
24100 In addition to these files, @value{GDBN} supports auto-loading code written
24101 in various extension languages. @xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
24103 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
24104 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
24105 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24107 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
24108 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
24111 @anchor{set auto-load off}
24112 @kindex set auto-load off
24113 @item set auto-load off
24114 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
24115 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
24116 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
24118 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
24121 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
24122 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
24123 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
24124 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
24125 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
24126 @code{set auto-load no}.
24128 @anchor{show auto-load}
24129 @kindex show auto-load
24130 @item show auto-load
24131 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
24135 (gdb) show auto-load
24136 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
24137 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
24138 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
24140 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
24141 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
24142 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
24143 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
24144 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
24147 @anchor{info auto-load}
24148 @kindex info auto-load
24149 @item info auto-load
24150 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
24154 (gdb) info auto-load
24157 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
24158 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
24159 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
24163 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
24167 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
24169 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
24170 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
24171 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
24172 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
24173 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
24174 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
24175 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
24176 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
24177 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
24178 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
24179 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
24180 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
24181 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
24182 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
24183 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
24184 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
24185 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
24186 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
24187 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
24188 @item @xref{set auto-load guile-scripts}.
24189 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
24190 @item @xref{show auto-load guile-scripts}.
24191 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
24192 @item @xref{info auto-load guile-scripts}.
24193 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
24194 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
24195 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
24196 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
24197 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
24198 @item @xref{add-auto-load-scripts-directory}.
24199 @tab Add directory for auto-loaded scripts location list.
24200 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
24201 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
24202 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
24203 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
24204 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
24205 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
24206 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
24207 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
24208 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
24209 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
24210 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
24211 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
24212 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
24213 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
24214 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
24215 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
24216 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
24217 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
24220 @node Init File in the Current Directory
24221 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
24222 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
24224 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
24225 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
24226 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
24228 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
24229 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24232 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
24233 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
24234 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
24235 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
24236 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
24238 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
24239 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
24240 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
24241 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
24242 current directory is enabled or disabled.
24244 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
24245 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
24246 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
24247 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
24248 current directory have been auto-loaded.
24251 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
24252 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
24253 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
24255 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
24257 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
24258 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
24260 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
24261 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
24262 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
24263 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
24264 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
24267 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
24268 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24271 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
24272 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
24273 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
24274 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
24276 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
24277 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
24278 @item show auto-load libthread-db
24279 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
24280 enabled or disabled.
24282 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
24283 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
24284 @item info auto-load libthread-db
24285 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
24286 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
24289 @node Auto-loading safe path
24290 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
24291 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
24293 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
24294 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
24295 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
24296 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
24297 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
24299 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
24304 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
24305 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
24306 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
24307 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
24308 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
24309 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
24310 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
24314 To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
24315 invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
24318 $ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
24321 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
24324 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
24325 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
24326 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
24327 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
24328 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
24329 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
24330 directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
24331 (@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
24332 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
24333 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
24335 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
24336 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
24337 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
24339 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
24340 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
24341 @item show auto-load safe-path
24342 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
24345 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
24346 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
24347 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
24348 Add an entry (or list of entries) to the list of directories trusted for
24349 automatic loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited
24350 by the host platform path separator in use.
24353 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
24354 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
24355 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
24356 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
24357 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
24359 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
24360 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
24361 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
24362 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
24363 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
24364 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
24365 init file in the current directory
24366 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
24368 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
24369 example, you could use one of the following ways:
24372 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
24373 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
24374 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
24375 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
24377 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
24378 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
24379 @value{GDBN} session.
24381 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
24382 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
24383 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
24384 from trusted sources.
24386 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
24387 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
24388 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
24392 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
24393 also suppresses any such warning messages:
24396 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
24397 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
24399 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
24400 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
24401 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
24402 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
24405 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
24406 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
24407 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
24408 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
24409 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
24410 recommended to be entered.
24412 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
24413 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
24414 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
24416 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
24417 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
24418 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
24419 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
24422 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
24423 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
24424 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
24427 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
24428 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
24429 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
24430 for objfile "/tmp/true".
24431 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
24432 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
24433 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
24434 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
24435 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
24439 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
24440 @kindex set debug auto-load
24441 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
24442 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
24444 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
24445 @kindex show debug auto-load
24446 @item show debug auto-load
24447 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
24451 @node Messages/Warnings
24452 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
24454 @cindex verbose operation
24455 @cindex optional warnings
24456 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
24457 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
24458 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
24459 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
24461 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
24462 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
24463 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
24466 @kindex set verbose
24467 @item set verbose on
24468 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
24470 @item set verbose off
24471 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
24473 @kindex show verbose
24475 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
24478 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
24479 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
24480 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
24485 @kindex set complaints
24486 @item set complaints @var{limit}
24487 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
24488 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
24489 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
24490 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
24492 @kindex show complaints
24493 @item show complaints
24494 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
24498 @anchor{confirmation requests}
24499 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
24500 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
24501 you try to run a program which is already running:
24505 The program being debugged has been started already.
24506 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
24509 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
24510 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
24514 @kindex set confirm
24516 @cindex confirmation
24517 @cindex stupid questions
24518 @item set confirm off
24519 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
24520 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
24521 automatically disables confirmation requests.
24523 @item set confirm on
24524 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
24526 @kindex show confirm
24528 Displays state of confirmation requests.
24532 @cindex command tracing
24533 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
24534 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
24535 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
24536 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
24539 @kindex set trace-commands
24540 @cindex command scripts, debugging
24541 @item set trace-commands on
24542 Enable command tracing.
24543 @item set trace-commands off
24544 Disable command tracing.
24545 @item show trace-commands
24546 Display the current state of command tracing.
24549 @node Debugging Output
24550 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
24551 @cindex optional debugging messages
24553 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
24554 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
24555 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
24556 section documents those commands.
24559 @kindex set exec-done-display
24560 @item set exec-done-display
24561 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
24562 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
24563 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
24564 @kindex show exec-done-display
24565 @item show exec-done-display
24566 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
24569 @cindex ARM AArch64
24570 @item set debug aarch64
24571 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
24572 The default is off.
24574 @item show debug aarch64
24575 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
24577 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
24578 @cindex architecture debugging info
24579 @item set debug arch
24580 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
24581 @item show debug arch
24582 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
24583 @item set debug aix-solib
24584 @cindex AIX shared library debugging
24585 Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
24586 support module. The default is off.
24587 @item show debug aix-thread
24588 Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
24589 @item set debug aix-thread
24590 @cindex AIX threads
24591 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
24593 @item show debug aix-thread
24594 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
24595 @item set debug check-physname
24597 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
24598 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
24599 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
24600 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
24601 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
24602 both ways and display any discrepancies.
24603 @item show debug check-physname
24604 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
24605 @item set debug coff-pe-read
24606 @cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
24607 Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
24608 exported symbols. The default is off.
24609 @item show debug coff-pe-read
24610 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
24611 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
24612 @item set debug dwarf-die
24614 Dump DWARF DIEs after they are read in.
24615 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
24616 A value of zero turns off the display.
24617 @item show debug dwarf-die
24618 Show the current state of DWARF DIE debugging.
24619 @item set debug dwarf-line
24620 @cindex DWARF Line Tables
24621 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
24622 DWARF line tables. The default is 0 (off).
24623 A value of 1 provides basic information.
24624 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
24625 @item show debug dwarf-line
24626 Show the current state of DWARF line table debugging.
24627 @item set debug dwarf-read
24628 @cindex DWARF Reading
24629 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
24630 DWARF debug info. The default is 0 (off).
24631 A value of 1 provides basic information.
24632 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
24633 @item show debug dwarf-read
24634 Show the current state of DWARF reader debugging.
24635 @item set debug displaced
24636 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
24637 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
24638 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
24639 @item show debug displaced
24640 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
24641 related to displaced stepping.
24642 @item set debug event
24643 @cindex event debugging info
24644 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
24646 @item show debug event
24647 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
24649 @item set debug expression
24650 @cindex expression debugging info
24651 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
24652 expression parsing. The default is off.
24653 @item show debug expression
24654 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
24655 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
24656 @item set debug fbsd-lwp
24657 @cindex FreeBSD LWP debug messages
24658 Turns on or off debugging messages from the FreeBSD LWP debug support.
24659 @item show debug fbsd-lwp
24660 Show the current state of FreeBSD LWP debugging messages.
24661 @item set debug fbsd-nat
24662 @cindex FreeBSD native target debug messages
24663 Turns on or off debugging messages from the FreeBSD native target.
24664 @item show debug fbsd-nat
24665 Show the current state of FreeBSD native target debugging messages.
24666 @item set debug frame
24667 @cindex frame debugging info
24668 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
24670 @item show debug frame
24671 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
24673 @item set debug gnu-nat
24674 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
24675 Turn on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
24676 @item show debug gnu-nat
24677 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
24678 @item set debug infrun
24679 @cindex inferior debugging info
24680 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
24681 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
24682 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
24683 @item show debug infrun
24684 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
24685 @item set debug jit
24686 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
24687 Turn on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
24688 @item show debug jit
24689 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
24690 @item set debug lin-lwp
24691 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
24692 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
24693 Turn on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
24694 @item show debug lin-lwp
24695 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
24696 @item set debug linux-namespaces
24697 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux namespaces debug messages
24698 Turn on or off debugging messages from the Linux namespaces debug support.
24699 @item show debug linux-namespaces
24700 Show the current state of Linux namespaces debugging messages.
24701 @item set debug mach-o
24702 @cindex Mach-O symbols processing
24703 Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
24704 processing. The default is off.
24705 @item show debug mach-o
24706 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
24707 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
24708 @item set debug notification
24709 @cindex remote async notification debugging info
24710 Turn on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
24711 The default is off.
24712 @item show debug notification
24713 Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
24714 @item set debug observer
24715 @cindex observer debugging info
24716 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
24717 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
24718 @item show debug observer
24719 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
24720 @item set debug overload
24721 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
24722 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
24723 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
24725 @item show debug overload
24726 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
24728 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
24729 @cindex debug expression parser
24730 @item set debug parser
24731 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
24732 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
24733 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
24734 details. The default is off.
24735 @item show debug parser
24736 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
24737 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
24738 @cindex serial connections, debugging
24739 @cindex debug remote protocol
24740 @cindex remote protocol debugging
24741 @cindex display remote packets
24742 @item set debug remote
24743 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
24744 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
24745 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
24746 @item show debug remote
24747 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
24749 @item set debug separate-debug-file
24750 Turns on or off display of debug output about separate debug file search.
24751 @item show debug separate-debug-file
24752 Displays the state of separate debug file search debug output.
24754 @item set debug serial
24755 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
24757 @item show debug serial
24758 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
24760 @item set debug solib-frv
24761 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
24762 Turn on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
24763 @item show debug solib-frv
24764 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
24766 @item set debug symbol-lookup
24767 @cindex symbol lookup
24768 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol lookup.
24769 The default is 0 (off).
24770 A value of 1 provides basic information.
24771 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
24772 @item show debug symbol-lookup
24773 Show the current state of symbol lookup debugging messages.
24774 @item set debug symfile
24775 @cindex symbol file functions
24776 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol file functions.
24777 The default is off. @xref{Files}.
24778 @item show debug symfile
24779 Show the current state of symbol file debugging messages.
24780 @item set debug symtab-create
24781 @cindex symbol table creation
24782 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
24783 The default is 0 (off).
24784 A value of 1 provides basic information.
24785 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
24786 @item show debug symtab-create
24787 Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
24788 @item set debug target
24789 @cindex target debugging info
24790 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
24791 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
24792 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
24793 value of large memory transfers.
24794 @item show debug target
24795 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
24797 @item set debug timestamp
24798 @cindex timestampping debugging info
24799 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
24800 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
24802 @item show debug timestamp
24803 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
24805 @item set debug varobj
24806 @cindex variable object debugging info
24807 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
24808 info. The default is off.
24809 @item show debug varobj
24810 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
24812 @item set debug xml
24813 @cindex XML parser debugging
24814 Turn on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
24815 @item show debug xml
24816 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
24819 @node Other Misc Settings
24820 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
24821 @cindex miscellaneous settings
24824 @kindex set interactive-mode
24825 @item set interactive-mode
24826 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
24827 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
24828 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
24829 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
24830 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
24831 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
24832 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
24833 is, non-interactively otherwise.
24835 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
24836 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
24837 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
24838 inside a cygwin window.
24840 @kindex show interactive-mode
24841 @item show interactive-mode
24842 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
24845 @node Extending GDB
24846 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
24847 @cindex extending GDB
24849 @value{GDBN} provides several mechanisms for extension.
24850 @value{GDBN} also provides the ability to automatically load
24851 extensions when it reads a file for debugging. This allows the
24852 user to automatically customize @value{GDBN} for the program
24856 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of @value{GDBN} Commands
24857 * Python:: Extending @value{GDBN} using Python
24858 * Guile:: Extending @value{GDBN} using Guile
24859 * Auto-loading extensions:: Automatically loading extensions
24860 * Multiple Extension Languages:: Working with multiple extension languages
24861 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
24864 To facilitate the use of extension languages, @value{GDBN} is capable
24865 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
24866 can recognize which extension language is being used by looking at
24867 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
24868 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
24869 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
24871 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
24875 @kindex set script-extension
24876 @kindex show script-extension
24877 @item set script-extension off
24878 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
24880 @item set script-extension soft
24881 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
24882 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
24883 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
24884 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
24886 @item set script-extension strict
24887 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
24888 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
24889 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
24891 @item show script-extension
24892 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
24897 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
24899 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
24900 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
24901 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
24905 * Define:: How to define your own commands
24906 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
24907 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
24908 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
24909 * Auto-loading sequences:: Controlling auto-loaded command files
24913 @subsection User-defined Commands
24915 @cindex user-defined command
24916 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
24917 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
24918 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
24919 @code{define} command. User commands may accept an unlimited number of arguments
24920 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
24921 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$argN}. A trivial example:
24925 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
24930 To execute the command use:
24937 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
24938 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
24939 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
24942 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
24943 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
24944 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
24950 print $arg0 + $arg1
24953 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
24958 Combining with the @code{eval} command (@pxref{eval}) makes it easier
24959 to process a variable number of arguments:
24966 eval "set $sum = $sum + $arg%d", $i
24976 @item define @var{commandname}
24977 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
24978 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
24979 The argument @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
24980 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
24981 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
24982 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
24984 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
24985 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
24986 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
24989 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
24990 @item document @var{commandname}
24991 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
24992 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
24993 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
24994 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
24995 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
24996 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
24998 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
24999 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
25000 does not change the documentation.
25002 @kindex dont-repeat
25003 @cindex don't repeat command
25005 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
25006 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
25007 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
25009 @kindex help user-defined
25010 @item help user-defined
25011 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
25012 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
25017 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
25018 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
25019 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
25020 definitions for all user-defined commands.
25021 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
25023 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
25024 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
25025 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
25026 @item show max-user-call-depth
25027 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
25028 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
25029 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
25030 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
25031 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
25034 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
25035 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
25037 When user-defined commands are executed, the
25038 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
25039 stops execution of the user-defined command.
25041 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
25042 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
25043 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
25044 messages when used in a user-defined command.
25047 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
25048 @cindex command hooks
25049 @cindex hooks, for commands
25050 @cindex hooks, pre-command
25053 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
25054 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
25055 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
25056 before that command.
25058 @cindex hooks, post-command
25060 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
25061 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
25062 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
25063 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
25064 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
25066 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
25067 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
25069 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
25070 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
25072 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
25073 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
25074 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
25075 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
25076 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
25078 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
25079 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
25084 handle SIGALRM nopass
25088 handle SIGALRM pass
25091 define hook-continue
25092 handle SIGALRM pass
25096 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
25097 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
25105 define hookpost-echo
25109 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
25110 <<<---Hello World--->>>
25115 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
25116 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
25117 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
25118 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
25120 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
25121 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
25122 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
25124 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
25125 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
25126 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
25128 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
25129 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
25131 @node Command Files
25132 @subsection Command Files
25134 @cindex command files
25135 @cindex scripting commands
25136 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
25137 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
25138 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
25139 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
25142 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
25143 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
25144 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
25145 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
25146 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
25150 @cindex execute commands from a file
25151 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
25152 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
25155 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
25156 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
25157 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
25158 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
25159 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
25161 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
25162 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
25163 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
25164 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
25165 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
25166 is not relevant to scripts.
25168 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
25169 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
25170 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
25171 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
25172 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
25173 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
25174 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
25175 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
25176 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
25177 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
25178 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
25179 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
25180 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
25181 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
25183 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
25184 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
25185 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
25187 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
25188 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
25189 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
25190 when called from command files.
25192 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
25193 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
25194 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
25195 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
25199 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
25202 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
25203 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
25204 would be directed to @file{log}.
25206 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
25207 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
25208 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
25209 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
25210 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
25211 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
25212 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
25213 conditionally, etc.
25220 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
25221 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
25222 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
25223 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
25224 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
25225 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
25226 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
25230 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
25231 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
25232 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
25233 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
25234 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
25235 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
25239 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
25240 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
25243 @kindex loop_continue
25244 @item loop_continue
25245 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
25246 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
25247 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
25248 the controlling expression.
25250 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
25252 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
25253 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
25258 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
25260 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
25261 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
25262 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
25263 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
25268 @item echo @var{text}
25269 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
25270 @c because it is not in ANSI.
25271 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
25272 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
25273 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
25274 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
25275 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
25276 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
25277 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
25278 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
25279 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
25281 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
25282 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
25285 echo This is some text\n\
25286 which is continued\n\
25287 onto several lines.\n
25290 produces the same output as
25293 echo This is some text\n
25294 echo which is continued\n
25295 echo onto several lines.\n
25299 @item output @var{expression}
25300 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
25301 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
25302 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
25305 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
25306 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
25307 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
25308 Formats}, for more information.
25311 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
25312 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
25313 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
25314 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
25315 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
25316 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
25317 executing the code below:
25320 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
25323 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
25324 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
25325 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
25326 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
25327 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
25330 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
25333 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
25336 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
25337 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
25338 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
25342 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
25345 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
25349 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
25350 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
25353 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
25357 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
25360 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
25364 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
25365 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
25366 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
25367 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
25369 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
25370 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
25371 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
25372 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
25375 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
25376 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
25377 together with a floating point specifier.
25382 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
25385 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
25388 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
25391 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
25392 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
25393 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
25395 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
25396 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
25398 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
25400 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
25405 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
25406 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
25407 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
25411 @node Auto-loading sequences
25412 @subsection Controlling auto-loading native @value{GDBN} scripts
25413 @cindex native script auto-loading
25415 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
25416 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
25417 @value{GDBN} will look for the command file @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}.
25418 @xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
25420 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
25421 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
25424 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
25425 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
25426 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
25427 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
25429 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
25430 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
25431 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
25432 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
25435 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
25436 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
25437 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
25438 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
25439 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
25443 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
25444 matching names are printed.
25446 @c Python docs live in a separate file.
25447 @include python.texi
25449 @c Guile docs live in a separate file.
25450 @include guile.texi
25452 @node Auto-loading extensions
25453 @section Auto-loading extensions
25454 @cindex auto-loading extensions
25456 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for automatically loading extensions
25457 when a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
25458 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library):
25459 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} and the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}
25460 section of modern file formats like ELF.
25463 * objfile-gdb.ext file: objfile-gdbdotext file. The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} file
25464 * .debug_gdb_scripts section: dotdebug_gdb_scripts section. The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25465 * Which flavor to choose?::
25468 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
25469 debugging commands and features.
25471 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
25472 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
25473 See the @samp{auto-loading} section of each extension language
25474 for more information.
25475 For @value{GDBN} command files see @ref{Auto-loading sequences}.
25476 For Python files see @ref{Python Auto-loading}.
25478 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
25479 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25481 @node objfile-gdbdotext file
25482 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} file
25483 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
25484 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
25485 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.scm}
25487 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for a file named
25488 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
25489 where @var{objfile} is the object file's name and
25490 where @var{ext} is the file extension for the extension language:
25493 @item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
25494 GDB's own command language
25495 @item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
25497 @item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.scm}
25501 @var{script-name} is formed by ensuring that the file name of @var{objfile}
25502 is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving @code{.} and @code{..}
25503 components, and appending the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} suffix.
25504 If this file exists and is readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a
25505 script in the specified extension language.
25507 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
25508 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
25510 Note that loading of these files requires an accordingly configured
25511 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25513 For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
25514 scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
25515 found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
25516 its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
25517 is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
25518 between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
25521 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
25522 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
25523 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
25524 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
25525 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
25526 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
25528 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
25529 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
25531 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
25532 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
25533 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
25534 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
25536 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
25537 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
25538 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
25539 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
25540 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
25541 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
25544 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
25545 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
25546 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
25548 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
25549 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
25550 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
25551 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
25553 @anchor{add-auto-load-scripts-directory}
25554 @kindex add-auto-load-scripts-directory
25555 @item add-auto-load-scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@dots{}@r{]}
25556 Add an entry (or list of entries) to the list of auto-loaded scripts locations.
25557 Multiple entries may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use.
25560 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
25561 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
25562 @var{objfile} is opened.
25563 So your @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
25564 is evaluated more than once.
25566 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
25567 @subsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25568 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25570 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
25571 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
25572 it will look for a special section named @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
25573 If this section exists, its contents is a list of null-terminated entries
25574 specifying scripts to load. Each entry begins with a non-null prefix byte that
25575 specifies the kind of entry, typically the extension language and whether the
25576 script is in a file or inlined in @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
25578 The following entries are supported:
25581 @item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_FILE = 1
25582 @item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_SCHEME_FILE = 3
25583 @item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_TEXT = 4
25584 @item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_SCHEME_TEXT = 6
25587 @subsubsection Script File Entries
25589 If the entry specifies a file, @value{GDBN} will look for the file first
25590 in the current directory and then along the source search path
25591 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
25592 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
25593 directory is not relevant to scripts.
25595 File entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
25596 for example, this GCC macro for Python scripts.
25599 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
25600 #define DEFINE_GDB_PY_SCRIPT(script_name) \
25602 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
25603 .byte 1 /* Python */\n\
25604 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
25610 For Guile scripts, replace @code{.byte 1} with @code{.byte 3}.
25611 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
25614 DEFINE_GDB_PY_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
25617 The script name may include directories if desired.
25619 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
25620 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25622 If the macro invocation is put in a header, any application or library
25623 using this header will get a reference to the specified script,
25624 and with the use of @code{"MS"} attributes on the section, the linker
25625 will remove duplicates.
25627 @subsubsection Script Text Entries
25629 Script text entries allow to put the executable script in the entry
25630 itself instead of loading it from a file.
25631 The first line of the entry, everything after the prefix byte and up to
25632 the first newline (@code{0xa}) character, is the script name, and must not
25633 contain any kind of space character, e.g., spaces or tabs.
25634 The rest of the entry, up to the trailing null byte, is the script to
25635 execute in the specified language. The name needs to be unique among
25636 all script names, as @value{GDBN} executes each script only once based
25639 Here is an example from file @file{py-section-script.c} in the @value{GDBN}
25643 #include "symcat.h"
25644 #include "gdb/section-scripts.h"
25646 ".pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n"
25647 ".byte " XSTRING (SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_TEXT) "\n"
25648 ".ascii \"gdb.inlined-script\\n\"\n"
25649 ".ascii \"class test_cmd (gdb.Command):\\n\"\n"
25650 ".ascii \" def __init__ (self):\\n\"\n"
25651 ".ascii \" super (test_cmd, self).__init__ ("
25652 "\\\"test-cmd\\\", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)\\n\"\n"
25653 ".ascii \" def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):\\n\"\n"
25654 ".ascii \" print (\\\"test-cmd output, arg = %s\\\" % arg)\\n\"\n"
25655 ".ascii \"test_cmd ()\\n\"\n"
25661 Loading of inlined scripts requires a properly configured
25662 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25663 The path to specify in @code{auto-load safe-path} is the path of the file
25664 containing the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
25666 @node Which flavor to choose?
25667 @subsection Which flavor to choose?
25669 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading extensions, it might not always
25670 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
25673 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} way:
25677 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
25680 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
25682 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
25683 in the source search path.
25684 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
25685 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
25688 Doesn't require source code additions.
25692 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
25696 Works with static linking.
25698 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} way require an objfile to
25699 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
25700 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
25701 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's
25702 @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} script.
25705 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
25707 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
25708 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} script to.
25711 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
25713 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
25714 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
25715 @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
25716 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
25717 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
25718 top of the source tree to the source search path.
25721 @node Multiple Extension Languages
25722 @section Multiple Extension Languages
25724 The Guile and Python extension languages do not share any state,
25725 and generally do not interfere with each other.
25726 There are some things to be aware of, however.
25728 @subsection Python comes first
25730 Python was @value{GDBN}'s first extension language, and to avoid breaking
25731 existing behaviour Python comes first. This is generally solved by the
25732 ``first one wins'' principle. @value{GDBN} maintains a list of enabled
25733 extension languages, and when it makes a call to an extension language,
25734 (say to pretty-print a value), it tries each in turn until an extension
25735 language indicates it has performed the request (e.g., has returned the
25736 pretty-printed form of a value).
25737 This extends to errors while performing such requests: If an error happens
25738 while, for example, trying to pretty-print an object then the error is
25739 reported and any following extension languages are not tried.
25742 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
25743 @cindex aliases for commands
25745 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
25746 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
25747 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
25748 that involves less typing.
25750 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
25751 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
25752 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
25754 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
25755 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
25756 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
25758 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
25763 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
25767 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
25768 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
25771 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
25772 that is being aliased.
25774 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
25775 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
25776 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
25778 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
25779 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
25781 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
25782 of a command so that there is less to type.
25783 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
25784 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
25785 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
25786 The following will accomplish this.
25789 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
25792 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
25793 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
25794 for it with the @samp{document} command.
25795 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
25797 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
25798 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
25799 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
25803 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
25804 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
25805 (gdb) set p elms 20
25807 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
25810 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
25811 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
25812 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
25814 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
25815 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
25818 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
25821 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
25822 alias for a more complex command.
25823 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
25826 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
25831 @chapter Command Interpreters
25832 @cindex command interpreters
25834 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
25835 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
25836 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
25838 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
25839 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
25840 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
25841 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
25843 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
25844 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
25845 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
25846 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
25850 @cindex console interpreter
25851 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
25852 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
25853 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
25856 @cindex mi interpreter
25857 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
25858 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
25859 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
25863 @cindex mi2 interpreter
25864 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
25867 @cindex mi1 interpreter
25868 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
25872 @cindex invoke another interpreter
25874 @kindex interpreter-exec
25875 You may execute commands in any interpreter from the current
25876 interpreter using the appropriate command. If you are running the
25877 console interpreter, simply use the @code{interpreter-exec} command:
25880 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
25883 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
25884 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
25886 Note that @code{interpreter-exec} only changes the interpreter for the
25887 duration of the specified command. It does not change the interpreter
25890 @cindex start a new independent interpreter
25892 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, it is
25893 possible to run an independent interpreter on a specified input/output
25894 device (usually a tty).
25896 For example, consider a debugger GUI or IDE that wants to provide a
25897 @value{GDBN} console view. It may do so by embedding a terminal
25898 emulator widget in its GUI, starting @value{GDBN} in the traditional
25899 command-line mode with stdin/stdout/stderr redirected to that
25900 terminal, and then creating an MI interpreter running on a specified
25901 input/output device. The console interpreter created by @value{GDBN}
25902 at startup handles commands the user types in the terminal widget,
25903 while the GUI controls and synchronizes state with @value{GDBN} using
25904 the separate MI interpreter.
25906 To start a new secondary @dfn{user interface} running MI, use the
25907 @code{new-ui} command:
25910 @cindex new user interface
25912 new-ui @var{interpreter} @var{tty}
25915 The @var{interpreter} parameter specifies the interpreter to run.
25916 This accepts the same values as the @code{interpreter-exec} command.
25917 For example, @samp{console}, @samp{mi}, @samp{mi2}, etc. The
25918 @var{tty} parameter specifies the name of the bidirectional file the
25919 interpreter uses for input/output, usually the name of a
25920 pseudoterminal slave on Unix systems. For example:
25923 (@value{GDBP}) new-ui mi /dev/pts/9
25927 runs an MI interpreter on @file{/dev/pts/9}.
25930 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
25932 @cindex Text User Interface
25935 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
25936 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
25937 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
25938 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
25939 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
25942 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
25943 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
25944 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
25945 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
25946 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
25949 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
25950 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
25951 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
25952 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @command{tui
25953 enable} or @kbd{C-x C-a}. @xref{TUI Commands, ,TUI Commands}, and
25954 @ref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
25957 @section TUI Overview
25959 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
25963 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
25964 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
25965 managed using readline.
25968 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
25969 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
25972 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
25975 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
25976 when their values change.
25979 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
25980 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
25981 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
25982 indicates the breakpoint type:
25986 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
25989 Breakpoint which was never hit.
25992 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
25995 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
25998 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
26002 Breakpoint is enabled.
26005 Breakpoint is disabled.
26008 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
26009 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
26012 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
26013 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
26024 source and assembly,
26027 source and registers, or
26030 assembly and registers.
26033 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
26037 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
26038 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
26041 Gives the current process or thread number.
26042 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
26045 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
26046 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
26047 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
26048 the string @code{??} is displayed.
26051 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
26052 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
26055 Indicates the current program counter address.
26059 @section TUI Key Bindings
26060 @cindex TUI key bindings
26062 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
26063 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
26064 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
26066 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
26067 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
26069 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
26070 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
26079 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
26080 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
26081 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
26082 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
26083 The screen is then refreshed.
26087 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
26088 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
26089 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
26091 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
26095 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
26096 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
26097 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
26098 previous layout and the new one.
26100 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
26104 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
26105 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
26106 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
26108 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
26112 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
26113 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
26116 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
26121 Scroll the active window one page up.
26125 Scroll the active window one page down.
26129 Scroll the active window one line up.
26133 Scroll the active window one line down.
26137 Scroll the active window one column left.
26141 Scroll the active window one column right.
26145 Refresh the screen.
26148 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
26149 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
26150 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
26151 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
26152 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
26154 @node TUI Single Key Mode
26155 @section TUI Single Key Mode
26156 @cindex TUI single key mode
26158 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
26159 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
26160 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
26163 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26167 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26171 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26175 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26179 @kindex o @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26181 nexti. The shortcut letter @samp{o} stands for ``step Over''.
26183 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26185 exit the SingleKey mode.
26187 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26191 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26195 @kindex i @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26197 stepi. The shortcut letter @samp{i} stands for ``step Into''.
26199 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26203 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26207 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26212 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
26213 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
26214 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
26215 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
26216 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
26217 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
26221 @section TUI-specific Commands
26222 @cindex TUI commands
26224 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
26225 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
26226 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
26227 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
26229 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
26230 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
26231 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
26232 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
26233 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
26238 Activate TUI mode. The last active TUI window layout will be used if
26239 TUI mode has prevsiouly been used in the current debugging session,
26240 otherwise a default layout is used.
26243 @kindex tui disable
26244 Disable TUI mode, returning to the console interpreter.
26248 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
26250 @item layout @var{name}
26252 Changes which TUI windows are displayed. In each layout the command
26253 window is always displayed, the @var{name} parameter controls which
26254 additional windows are displayed, and can be any of the following:
26258 Display the next layout.
26261 Display the previous layout.
26264 Display the source and command windows.
26267 Display the assembly and command windows.
26270 Display the source, assembly, and command windows.
26273 When in @code{src} layout display the register, source, and command
26274 windows. When in @code{asm} or @code{split} layout display the
26275 register, assembler, and command windows.
26278 @item focus @var{name}
26280 Changes which TUI window is currently active for scrolling. The
26281 @var{name} parameter can be any of the following:
26285 Make the next window active for scrolling.
26288 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
26291 Make the source window active for scrolling.
26294 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
26297 Make the register window active for scrolling.
26300 Make the command window active for scrolling.
26305 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
26307 @item tui reg @var{group}
26309 Changes the register group displayed in the tui register window to
26310 @var{group}. If the register window is not currently displayed this
26311 command will cause the register window to be displayed. The list of
26312 register groups, as well as their order is target specific. The
26313 following groups are available on most targets:
26316 Repeatedly selecting this group will cause the display to cycle
26317 through all of the available register groups.
26320 Repeatedly selecting this group will cause the display to cycle
26321 through all of the available register groups in the reverse order to
26325 Display the general registers.
26327 Display the floating point registers.
26329 Display the system registers.
26331 Display the vector registers.
26333 Display all registers.
26338 Update the source window and the current execution point.
26340 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
26341 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
26343 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
26344 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
26345 decrease it. The @var{name} parameter can be one of @code{src} (the
26346 source window), @code{cmd} (the command window), @code{asm} (the
26347 disassembly window), or @code{regs} (the register display window).
26349 @item tabset @var{nchars}
26351 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters. This
26352 setting affects the display of TAB characters in the source and
26356 @node TUI Configuration
26357 @section TUI Configuration Variables
26358 @cindex TUI configuration variables
26360 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
26363 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
26364 @kindex set tui border-kind
26365 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
26366 The possible values are the following:
26369 Use a space character to draw the border.
26372 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
26375 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
26376 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
26379 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
26380 @kindex set tui border-mode
26381 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
26382 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
26383 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
26384 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
26387 Use normal attributes to display the border.
26393 Use reverse video mode.
26396 Use half bright mode.
26398 @item half-standout
26399 Use half bright and standout mode.
26402 Use extra bright or bold mode.
26404 @item bold-standout
26405 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
26410 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
26413 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
26414 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
26415 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
26418 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
26419 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
26420 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
26421 created Emacs buffer.
26422 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
26424 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
26429 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
26432 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
26433 and output done by the program you are debugging.
26435 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
26436 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
26439 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
26440 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
26441 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
26445 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
26447 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
26448 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
26449 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
26450 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
26453 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
26454 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
26457 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
26458 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
26459 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
26460 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
26462 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
26463 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
26464 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
26465 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
26466 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
26467 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
26468 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
26469 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
26470 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
26472 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
26473 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
26474 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
26475 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
26477 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
26478 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
26479 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
26480 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
26483 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
26484 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
26488 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
26491 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
26492 update the display window to show the current file and location.
26495 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
26496 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
26497 to show the current file and location.
26500 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
26501 display window accordingly.
26504 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
26505 @code{finish} command.
26508 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
26512 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
26513 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
26514 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
26517 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
26518 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
26521 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
26522 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
26524 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
26525 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
26526 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
26527 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
26528 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
26529 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
26530 speedbar displays watch expressions.
26532 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
26533 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
26534 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
26535 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
26538 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
26539 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
26540 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
26541 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
26542 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
26543 to correspond properly with the code.
26545 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
26546 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
26550 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
26552 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
26554 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
26555 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
26556 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
26557 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
26558 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
26559 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
26561 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
26562 in the form of a reference manual.
26564 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
26565 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
26566 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
26568 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
26570 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
26571 This chapter uses the following notation:
26575 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
26578 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
26579 it may or may not be given.
26582 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
26583 may repeat zero or more times.
26586 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
26587 may repeat one or more times.
26590 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
26594 @heading Dependencies
26598 * GDB/MI General Design::
26599 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
26600 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
26601 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
26602 * GDB/MI Output Records::
26603 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
26604 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
26605 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
26606 * GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
26607 * GDB/MI Program Context::
26608 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
26609 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
26610 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
26611 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
26612 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
26613 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
26614 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
26615 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
26616 * GDB/MI File Commands::
26618 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
26619 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
26620 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
26622 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
26623 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
26624 * GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands::
26625 * GDB/MI Support Commands::
26626 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
26629 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26630 @node GDB/MI General Design
26631 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
26632 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
26634 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
26635 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
26636 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
26637 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
26638 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
26639 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
26640 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
26641 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
26642 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
26643 a command and reported as part of that command response.
26645 The important examples of notifications are:
26649 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
26650 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
26651 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
26652 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
26653 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
26654 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
26655 command itself was successfully executed.
26658 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
26659 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
26660 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
26661 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
26662 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
26663 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
26666 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
26667 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
26668 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
26669 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
26670 orthogonal frontend design.
26674 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
26675 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
26676 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
26677 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
26678 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
26679 the user interface.
26683 * Context management::
26684 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
26688 @node Context management
26689 @subsection Context management
26691 @subsubsection Threads and Frames
26693 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
26694 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
26695 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
26696 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
26697 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
26698 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
26699 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
26700 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
26701 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
26703 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
26704 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
26705 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
26706 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
26707 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
26708 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
26709 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
26710 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
26711 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
26712 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} global
26713 identifier for thread and frame to operate on.
26715 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
26716 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
26717 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
26718 current thread or frame be changed. For example, when stopping on a
26719 breakpoint it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is
26720 hit. For another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} or
26721 @samp{frame} commands via the frontend, it is desirable to change the
26722 frontend's selection to the one specified by user. @value{GDBN}
26723 communicates the suggestion to change current thread and frame using the
26724 @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
26726 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
26727 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
26728 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
26729 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
26730 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
26731 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
26732 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
26733 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
26734 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
26735 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
26736 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
26737 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
26738 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
26739 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
26740 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
26741 @samp{--frame} options.
26743 @subsubsection Language
26745 The execution of several commands depends on which language is selected.
26746 By default, the current language (@pxref{show language}) is used.
26747 But for commands known to be language-sensitive, it is recommended
26748 to use the @samp{--language} option. This option takes one argument,
26749 which is the name of the language to use while executing the command.
26753 -data-evaluate-expression --language c "sizeof (void*)"
26758 The valid language names are the same names accepted by the
26759 @samp{set language} command (@pxref{Manually}), excluding @samp{auto},
26760 @samp{local} or @samp{unknown}.
26762 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
26763 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
26765 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
26766 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
26767 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
26768 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
26769 @code{-gdb-set mi-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
26770 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
26771 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
26772 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
26773 @code{-list-target-features} command.
26776 @item -gdb-set mi-async on
26777 @item -gdb-set mi-async off
26778 Set whether MI is in asynchronous mode.
26780 When @code{off}, which is the default, MI execution commands (e.g.,
26781 @code{-exec-continue}) are foreground commands, and @value{GDBN} waits
26782 for the program to stop before processing further commands.
26784 When @code{on}, MI execution commands are background execution
26785 commands (e.g., @code{-exec-continue} becomes the equivalent of the
26786 @code{c&} CLI command), and so @value{GDBN} is capable of processing
26787 MI commands even while the target is running.
26789 @item -gdb-show mi-async
26790 Show whether MI asynchronous mode is enabled.
26793 Note: In @value{GDBN} version 7.7 and earlier, this option was called
26794 @code{target-async} instead of @code{mi-async}, and it had the effect
26795 of both putting MI in asynchronous mode and making CLI background
26796 commands possible. CLI background commands are now always possible
26797 ``out of the box'' if the target supports them. The old spelling is
26798 kept as a deprecated alias for backwards compatibility.
26800 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
26801 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
26802 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
26803 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
26804 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
26807 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
26808 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
26809 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
26810 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
26811 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
26812 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
26813 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
26814 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
26815 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
26816 @samp{--thread} option).
26818 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
26819 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
26820 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
26821 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
26823 @node Thread groups
26824 @subsection Thread groups
26825 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
26826 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
26827 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
26828 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
26829 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
26831 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
26832 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
26833 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
26834 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
26835 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
26836 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
26837 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
26840 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
26841 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
26842 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
26843 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
26844 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
26845 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
26846 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
26847 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
26848 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
26849 the members of specific thread group.
26851 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
26852 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
26853 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
26854 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
26855 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
26856 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
26857 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
26858 after attaching to that thread group.
26860 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
26861 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
26862 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
26863 such thread groups.
26865 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26866 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
26867 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
26870 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
26871 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
26874 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
26875 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
26877 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
26878 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
26880 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
26881 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
26883 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
26884 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
26885 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
26887 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
26888 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
26889 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
26891 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
26892 "any sequence of digits"
26894 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
26895 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
26897 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
26898 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
26900 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
26901 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
26903 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
26904 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
26905 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
26907 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
26908 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
26910 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
26919 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
26920 output is described below.
26923 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
26927 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
26928 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
26929 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
26930 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
26931 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
26938 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
26941 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
26944 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
26945 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
26947 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
26948 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
26949 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
26950 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
26951 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
26952 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
26954 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
26955 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
26959 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
26960 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
26962 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
26963 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
26965 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
26966 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
26968 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
26969 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
26971 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
26972 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output nl}}
26974 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
26975 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output nl}}
26977 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
26978 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output nl}}
26980 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
26981 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )*}
26983 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
26984 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
26986 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
26987 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
26988 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
26990 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
26991 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
26993 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
26994 @code{ @var{string} }
26996 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
26997 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
26999 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
27000 @code{@var{c-string}}
27002 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
27003 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
27005 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
27006 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
27007 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
27009 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
27010 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
27012 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
27013 @code{"~" @var{c-string nl}}
27015 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
27016 @code{"@@" @var{c-string nl}}
27018 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
27019 @code{"&" @var{c-string nl}}
27021 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27024 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27025 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
27033 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
27036 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
27037 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
27038 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
27039 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
27040 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
27041 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
27045 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27046 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
27047 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
27048 prefixed by @samp{+}.
27051 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27052 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
27053 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
27057 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27058 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
27059 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
27060 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
27063 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27064 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
27065 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
27066 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
27069 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27070 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
27071 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
27074 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27075 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
27076 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
27077 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
27080 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27081 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
27087 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
27088 details about the various output records.
27090 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27091 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
27092 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
27094 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
27095 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
27097 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
27098 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
27099 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
27100 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
27101 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
27102 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
27104 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
27105 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
27106 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
27108 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27109 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
27110 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
27111 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
27113 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
27114 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
27116 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
27117 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
27118 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
27119 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
27122 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
27123 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
27124 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
27125 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
27129 New MI commands may be added.
27132 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
27135 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
27136 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
27138 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
27139 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
27141 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
27142 @c resolve inconsistencies.
27145 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
27146 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
27147 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
27148 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
27149 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
27151 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
27154 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
27155 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
27156 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
27157 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
27158 @cindex mailing lists
27160 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27161 @node GDB/MI Output Records
27162 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
27165 * GDB/MI Result Records::
27166 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
27167 * GDB/MI Async Records::
27168 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
27169 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
27170 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
27171 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
27174 @node GDB/MI Result Records
27175 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
27177 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27178 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
27179 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
27180 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
27184 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
27185 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
27190 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
27191 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
27192 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
27193 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
27194 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
27195 which threads are resumed.
27199 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
27201 @item "^error" "," "msg=" @var{c-string} [ "," "code=" @var{c-string} ]
27203 The operation failed. The @code{msg=@var{c-string}} variable contains
27204 the corresponding error message.
27206 If present, the @code{code=@var{c-string}} variable provides an error
27207 code on which consumers can rely on to detect the corresponding
27208 error condition. At present, only one error code is defined:
27211 @item "undefined-command"
27212 Indicates that the command causing the error does not exist.
27217 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
27221 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
27222 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
27224 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
27225 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27226 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
27227 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
27228 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
27230 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
27231 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
27232 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
27233 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
27234 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
27237 @item "~" @var{string-output}
27238 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
27239 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
27241 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
27242 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
27243 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
27244 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
27246 @item "&" @var{string-output}
27247 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
27251 @node GDB/MI Async Records
27252 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
27254 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27255 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
27256 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
27257 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
27258 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
27259 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
27261 The following is the list of possible async records:
27265 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
27266 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field can be the global
27267 thread ID of the the thread that is now running, and it can be
27268 @samp{all} if all threads are running. The frontend should assume
27269 that no interaction with a running thread is possible after this
27270 notification is produced. The frontend should not assume that this
27271 notification is output only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may
27272 emit this notification several times, either for different threads,
27273 because it cannot resume all threads together, or even for a single
27274 thread, if the thread must be stepped though some code before letting
27277 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
27278 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
27282 @item breakpoint-hit
27283 A breakpoint was reached.
27284 @item watchpoint-trigger
27285 A watchpoint was triggered.
27286 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
27287 A read watchpoint was triggered.
27288 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
27289 An access watchpoint was triggered.
27290 @item function-finished
27291 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27292 @item location-reached
27293 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27294 @item watchpoint-scope
27295 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
27296 @item end-stepping-range
27297 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
27298 similar CLI command was accomplished.
27299 @item exited-signalled
27300 The inferior exited because of a signal.
27302 The inferior exited.
27303 @item exited-normally
27304 The inferior exited normally.
27305 @item signal-received
27306 A signal was received by the inferior.
27308 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
27309 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
27310 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
27311 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
27313 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
27314 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27316 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
27317 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27318 @item syscall-entry
27319 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
27320 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27321 @item syscall-return
27322 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
27323 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27325 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
27326 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27329 The @var{id} field identifies the global thread ID of the thread
27330 that directly caused the stop -- for example by hitting a breakpoint.
27331 Depending on whether all-stop
27332 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
27333 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
27334 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
27335 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
27336 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
27337 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
27338 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
27339 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
27340 if such information is not available.
27342 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
27343 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
27344 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
27345 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
27346 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
27347 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
27348 cannot be used in any way.
27350 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
27351 A thread group became associated with a running program,
27352 either because the program was just started or the thread group
27353 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
27354 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
27355 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
27357 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
27358 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
27359 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
27360 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
27361 thread group. The @var{code} field is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
27362 only when the inferior exited with some code.
27364 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
27365 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
27366 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
27367 contains the global @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
27368 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
27370 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"[,frame="@var{frame}"]
27371 Informs that the selected thread or frame were changed. This notification
27372 is not emitted as result of the @code{-thread-select} or
27373 @code{-stack-select-frame} commands, but is emitted whenever an MI command
27374 that is not documented to change the selected thread and frame actually
27375 changes them. In particular, invoking, directly or indirectly
27376 (via user-defined command), the CLI @code{thread} or @code{frame} commands,
27377 will generate this notification. Changing the thread or frame from another
27378 user interface (see @ref{Interpreters}) will also generate this notification.
27380 The @var{frame} field is only present if the newly selected thread is
27381 stopped. See @ref{GDB/MI Frame Information} for the format of its value.
27383 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
27384 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
27387 @item =library-loaded,...
27388 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
27389 notification has 5 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
27390 @var{host-name}, @var{symbols-loaded} and @var{ranges}. The @var{id} field is an
27391 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
27392 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
27393 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
27394 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
27395 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
27396 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
27397 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
27398 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
27399 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
27400 thread groups. The @var{ranges} field specifies the ranges of addresses belonging
27403 @item =library-unloaded,...
27404 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
27405 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
27406 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
27407 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
27408 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
27409 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
27412 @item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
27413 @itemx =traceframe-changed,end
27414 Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
27415 @var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
27416 frame is @var{tpnum}.
27418 @item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
27419 Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
27420 initial value @var{initial}.
27422 @item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
27423 @itemx =tsv-deleted
27424 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
27425 trace state variables are deleted.
27427 @item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
27428 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
27429 the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
27430 trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
27431 value of trace state variable is known.
27433 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
27434 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
27435 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
27436 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
27437 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
27440 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
27441 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
27442 @var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
27444 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
27445 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
27447 @item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}",method="@var{method}"[,format="@var{format}"]
27448 @itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
27449 Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
27450 inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
27451 group corresponding to the affected inferior.
27453 The @var{method} field indicates the method used to record execution. If the
27454 method in use supports multiple recording formats, @var{format} will be present
27455 and contain the currently used format. @xref{Process Record and Replay},
27456 for existing method and format values.
27458 @item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
27459 Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
27460 changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
27461 the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
27462 For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
27463 is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
27465 @item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
27466 Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
27467 written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
27468 thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
27469 @code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
27473 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
27474 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
27476 When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
27477 tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
27482 The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
27483 of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
27487 The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
27488 @samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
27491 If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
27492 indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
27495 This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
27496 the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
27497 meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
27500 This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
27501 value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
27502 Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
27505 The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
27506 giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
27507 breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
27508 multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
27509 be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
27512 If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
27513 If not known, this field is not present.
27516 The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
27517 If not known, this field is not present.
27520 The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
27521 known. If not known, this field is not present.
27524 The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
27525 If not known, this field is not present.
27528 If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
27529 provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
27533 If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
27534 text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
27537 Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
27541 If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
27542 thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
27545 If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
27546 field will hold the task identifier.
27549 If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
27552 The ignore count of the breakpoint.
27555 The enable count of the breakpoint.
27557 @item traceframe-usage
27560 @item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
27561 For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
27564 For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
27567 A tracepoint's pass count.
27569 @item original-location
27570 The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
27571 This field is optional.
27574 The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
27577 This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
27578 meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
27582 Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
27586 For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
27587 (@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
27590 -> -break-insert main
27591 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27592 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
27593 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
27598 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
27599 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
27601 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
27602 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
27607 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
27608 zero. This field is always present.
27611 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
27612 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
27615 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
27618 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
27619 address. This field may be absent.
27622 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
27626 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
27627 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
27631 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
27632 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
27634 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
27635 uses a tuple with the following fields. The fields are always present unless
27640 The global numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}.
27643 The target-specific string identifying the thread.
27646 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
27647 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
27648 frontend. This field is optional.
27651 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
27652 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
27653 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
27654 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
27658 The execution state of the thread, either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running},
27659 depending on whether the thread is presently running.
27662 The stack frame currently executing in the thread. This field is only present
27663 if the thread is stopped. Its format is documented in
27664 @ref{GDB/MI Frame Information}.
27667 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
27668 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
27671 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
27672 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
27674 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
27675 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
27676 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
27677 the @code{exception-name} field. Also, for exceptions that were raised
27678 with an exception message, @value{GDBN} provides that message via
27679 the @code{exception-message} field.
27681 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27682 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
27683 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
27684 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
27686 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
27687 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
27688 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
27689 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
27691 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
27692 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
27694 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
27696 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
27697 information of the breakpoint.
27700 -> -break-insert main
27701 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27702 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
27703 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
27708 @subheading Program Execution
27710 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
27711 reason that execution stopped.
27717 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
27718 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
27719 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
27720 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
27725 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
27729 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
27731 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
27739 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
27740 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
27741 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
27742 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
27743 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
27744 fails to exit in reasonable time.
27746 @subheading A Bad Command
27748 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
27752 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
27757 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27758 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
27759 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
27761 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
27762 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
27764 @subheading Motivation
27766 The motivation for this collection of commands.
27768 @subheading Introduction
27770 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
27772 @subheading Commands
27774 For each command in the block, the following is described:
27776 @subsubheading Synopsis
27779 -command @var{args}@dots{}
27782 @subsubheading Result
27784 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27786 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
27788 @subsubheading Example
27790 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
27791 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
27794 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27795 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
27796 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
27798 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
27799 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
27800 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
27803 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
27804 @findex -break-after
27806 @subsubheading Synopsis
27809 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
27812 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
27813 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
27814 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
27815 @samp{-break-list} command below.
27817 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27819 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
27821 @subsubheading Example
27826 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27827 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
27828 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
27836 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27837 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27838 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27839 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27840 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27841 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27842 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27843 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27844 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27845 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
27850 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
27851 @findex -break-catch
27854 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
27855 @findex -break-commands
27857 @subsubheading Synopsis
27860 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
27863 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
27864 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
27865 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
27866 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
27867 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
27868 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
27870 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27872 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
27874 @subsubheading Example
27879 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27880 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
27881 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
27884 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
27889 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
27890 @findex -break-condition
27892 @subsubheading Synopsis
27895 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
27898 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
27899 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
27900 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
27903 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27905 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
27907 @subsubheading Example
27911 -break-condition 1 1
27915 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27916 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27917 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27918 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27919 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27920 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27921 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27922 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27923 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27924 line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
27928 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
27929 @findex -break-delete
27931 @subsubheading Synopsis
27934 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27937 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
27938 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
27940 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27942 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
27944 @subsubheading Example
27952 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
27953 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27954 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27955 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27956 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27957 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27958 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27963 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
27964 @findex -break-disable
27966 @subsubheading Synopsis
27969 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27972 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
27973 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
27975 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27977 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
27979 @subsubheading Example
27987 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27988 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27989 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27990 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27991 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27992 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27993 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27994 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
27995 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27996 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
28000 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
28001 @findex -break-enable
28003 @subsubheading Synopsis
28006 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
28009 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
28011 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28013 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
28015 @subsubheading Example
28023 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28024 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28025 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28026 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28027 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28028 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28029 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28030 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28031 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28032 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
28036 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
28037 @findex -break-info
28039 @subsubheading Synopsis
28042 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
28046 Get information about a single breakpoint.
28048 The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
28049 Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
28052 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28054 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
28056 @subsubheading Example
28059 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
28060 @findex -break-insert
28061 @anchor{-break-insert}
28063 @subsubheading Synopsis
28066 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
28067 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
28068 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
28072 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
28075 @item linespec location
28076 A linespec location. @xref{Linespec Locations}.
28078 @item explicit location
28079 An explicit location. @sc{gdb/mi} explicit locations are
28080 analogous to the CLI's explicit locations using the option names
28081 listed below. @xref{Explicit Locations}.
28084 @item --source @var{filename}
28085 The source file name of the location. This option requires the use
28086 of either @samp{--function} or @samp{--line}.
28088 @item --function @var{function}
28089 The name of a function or method.
28091 @item --label @var{label}
28092 The name of a label.
28094 @item --line @var{lineoffset}
28095 An absolute or relative line offset from the start of the location.
28098 @item address location
28099 An address location, *@var{address}. @xref{Address Locations}.
28103 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
28107 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
28109 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
28111 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
28112 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
28113 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
28114 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
28117 Create a disabled breakpoint.
28119 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
28120 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
28121 @item -c @var{condition}
28122 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
28123 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
28124 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
28125 @item -p @var{thread-id}
28126 Restrict the breakpoint to the thread with the specified global
28130 @subsubheading Result
28132 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
28133 resulting breakpoint.
28135 Note: this format is open to change.
28136 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
28138 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28140 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
28141 @samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
28143 @subsubheading Example
28148 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
28149 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
28152 -break-insert -t foo
28153 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
28154 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
28158 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28159 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28160 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28161 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28162 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28163 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28164 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28165 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28166 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
28167 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
28169 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
28170 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
28171 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
28174 @c -break-insert -r foo.*
28175 @c ~int foo(int, int);
28176 @c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
28177 @c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
28182 @subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
28183 @findex -dprintf-insert
28185 @subsubheading Synopsis
28188 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
28189 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
28190 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
28195 If supplied, @var{location} may be specified the same way as for
28196 the @code{-break-insert} command. @xref{-break-insert}.
28198 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
28202 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
28204 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
28205 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
28206 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
28207 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
28210 Create a disabled breakpoint.
28211 @item -c @var{condition}
28212 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
28213 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
28214 Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
28215 to @var{ignore-count}.
28216 @item -p @var{thread-id}
28217 Restrict the breakpoint to the thread with the specified global
28221 @subsubheading Result
28223 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
28224 resulting breakpoint.
28226 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
28228 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28230 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
28232 @subsubheading Example
28236 4-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
28237 4^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28238 addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
28239 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
28240 times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
28241 original-location="foo"@}
28243 5-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
28244 5^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28245 addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
28246 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
28247 times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
28248 original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
28252 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
28253 @findex -break-list
28255 @subsubheading Synopsis
28261 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
28265 number of the breakpoint
28267 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
28269 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
28272 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
28274 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
28276 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
28278 @item Thread-groups
28279 list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
28281 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
28284 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
28285 @code{body} field is an empty list.
28287 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28289 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
28291 @subsubheading Example
28296 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28297 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28298 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28299 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28300 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28301 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28302 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28303 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28304 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
28306 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28307 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28308 line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
28312 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
28317 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
28318 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28319 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28320 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28321 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28322 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28323 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28328 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
28329 @findex -break-passcount
28331 @subsubheading Synopsis
28334 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
28337 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
28338 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
28339 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
28340 command @samp{passcount}.
28342 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
28343 @findex -break-watch
28345 @subsubheading Synopsis
28348 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
28351 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
28352 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
28353 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
28354 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
28355 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
28356 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
28357 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
28358 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
28360 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
28361 breakpoints inserted.
28363 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28365 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
28368 @subsubheading Example
28370 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
28375 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
28380 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
28381 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
28382 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
28383 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
28387 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
28388 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
28389 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
28394 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
28399 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
28400 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28401 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28402 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28403 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28408 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
28409 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28410 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28411 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28412 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28416 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
28417 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
28423 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
28426 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28427 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28428 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28429 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28430 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28431 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28432 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28433 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28434 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28435 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28436 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
28438 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28439 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
28444 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
28445 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28446 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28447 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28448 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28451 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28452 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28453 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28454 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28455 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28456 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28457 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28458 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28459 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28460 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28461 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
28463 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28464 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
28468 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
28469 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28470 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28471 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28472 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28475 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28476 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28477 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28478 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28479 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28480 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28481 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28482 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28483 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28484 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28485 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
28486 thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
28491 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28492 @node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
28493 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
28495 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
28499 * Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
28500 * Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
28503 @node Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
28504 @subsection Shared Library @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
28506 @subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
28507 @findex -catch-load
28509 @subsubheading Synopsis
28512 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
28515 Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
28516 the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
28517 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
28518 in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
28519 expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
28522 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28524 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
28526 @subsubheading Example
28529 -catch-load -t foo.so
28530 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
28531 what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
28536 @subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
28537 @findex -catch-unload
28539 @subsubheading Synopsis
28542 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
28545 Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
28546 used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
28547 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
28548 created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
28549 expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
28551 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28553 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
28555 @subsubheading Example
28558 -catch-unload -d bar.so
28559 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
28560 what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
28564 @node Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
28565 @subsection Ada Exception @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
28567 The following @sc{gdb/mi} commands can be used to create catchpoints
28568 that stop the execution when Ada exceptions are being raised.
28570 @subheading The @code{-catch-assert} Command
28571 @findex -catch-assert
28573 @subsubheading Synopsis
28576 -catch-assert [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -t ]
28579 Add a catchpoint for failed Ada assertions.
28581 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
28584 @item -c @var{condition}
28585 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
28587 Create a disabled catchpoint.
28589 Create a temporary catchpoint.
28592 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28594 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch assert}.
28596 @subsubheading Example
28600 ^done,bkptno="5",bkpt=@{number="5",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28601 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404888",what="failed Ada assertions",
28602 thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",
28603 original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_assert_failure"@}
28607 @subheading The @code{-catch-exception} Command
28608 @findex -catch-exception
28610 @subsubheading Synopsis
28613 -catch-exception [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -e @var{exception-name} ]
28617 Add a catchpoint stopping when Ada exceptions are raised.
28618 By default, the command stops the program when any Ada exception
28619 gets raised. But it is also possible, by using some of the
28620 optional parameters described below, to create more selective
28623 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
28626 @item -c @var{condition}
28627 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
28629 Create a disabled catchpoint.
28630 @item -e @var{exception-name}
28631 Only stop when @var{exception-name} is raised. This option cannot
28632 be used combined with @samp{-u}.
28634 Create a temporary catchpoint.
28636 Stop only when an unhandled exception gets raised. This option
28637 cannot be used combined with @samp{-e}.
28640 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28642 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{catch exception}
28643 and @samp{catch exception unhandled}.
28645 @subsubheading Example
28648 -catch-exception -e Program_Error
28649 ^done,bkptno="4",bkpt=@{number="4",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28650 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404874",
28651 what="`Program_Error' Ada exception", thread-groups=["i1"],
28652 times="0",original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_exception"@}
28656 @subheading The @code{-catch-handlers} Command
28657 @findex -catch-handlers
28659 @subsubheading Synopsis
28662 -catch-handlers [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -e @var{exception-name} ]
28666 Add a catchpoint stopping when Ada exceptions are handled.
28667 By default, the command stops the program when any Ada exception
28668 gets handled. But it is also possible, by using some of the
28669 optional parameters described below, to create more selective
28672 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
28675 @item -c @var{condition}
28676 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
28678 Create a disabled catchpoint.
28679 @item -e @var{exception-name}
28680 Only stop when @var{exception-name} is handled.
28682 Create a temporary catchpoint.
28685 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28687 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch handlers}.
28689 @subsubheading Example
28692 -catch-handlers -e Constraint_Error
28693 ^done,bkptno="4",bkpt=@{number="4",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
28694 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000402f68",
28695 what="`Constraint_Error' Ada exception handlers",thread-groups=["i1"],
28696 times="0",original-location="__gnat_begin_handler"@}
28700 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28701 @node GDB/MI Program Context
28702 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
28704 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
28705 @findex -exec-arguments
28708 @subsubheading Synopsis
28711 -exec-arguments @var{args}
28714 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
28717 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28719 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
28721 @subsubheading Example
28725 -exec-arguments -v word
28732 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
28733 @findex -exec-show-arguments
28735 @subsubheading Synopsis
28738 -exec-show-arguments
28741 Print the arguments of the program.
28743 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28745 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
28747 @subsubheading Example
28752 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
28753 @findex -environment-cd
28755 @subsubheading Synopsis
28758 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
28761 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
28763 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28765 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
28767 @subsubheading Example
28771 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
28777 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
28778 @findex -environment-directory
28780 @subsubheading Synopsis
28783 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
28786 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
28787 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
28788 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
28789 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
28791 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
28792 multiple directories in a single command
28793 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
28794 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
28795 If blanks are needed as
28796 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
28797 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
28798 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
28799 character must not be used
28800 in any directory name.
28801 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
28803 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28805 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
28807 @subsubheading Example
28811 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
28812 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
28814 -environment-directory ""
28815 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
28817 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
28818 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
28820 -environment-directory -r
28821 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
28826 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
28827 @findex -environment-path
28829 @subsubheading Synopsis
28832 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
28835 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
28836 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
28837 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
28838 supplied in addition to the
28839 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
28841 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
28842 multiple directories in a single command
28843 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
28844 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
28845 If blanks are needed as
28846 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
28847 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
28848 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
28849 character must not be used
28850 in any directory name.
28851 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
28854 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28856 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
28858 @subsubheading Example
28863 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
28865 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
28866 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
28868 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
28869 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
28874 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
28875 @findex -environment-pwd
28877 @subsubheading Synopsis
28883 Show the current working directory.
28885 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28887 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
28889 @subsubheading Example
28894 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
28898 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28899 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
28900 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
28903 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
28904 @findex -thread-info
28906 @subsubheading Synopsis
28909 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
28912 Reports information about either a specific thread, if the
28913 @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all threads.
28914 @var{thread-id} is the thread's global thread ID. When printing
28915 information about all threads, also reports the global ID of the
28918 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28920 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
28923 @subsubheading Result
28925 The result contains the following attributes:
28929 A list of threads. The format of the elements of the list is described in
28930 @ref{GDB/MI Thread Information}.
28932 @item current-thread-id
28933 The global id of the currently selected thread. This field is omitted if there
28934 is no selected thread (for example, when the selected inferior is not running,
28935 and therefore has no threads) or if a @var{thread-id} argument was passed to
28940 @subsubheading Example
28945 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
28946 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
28947 args=[]@},state="running"@},
28948 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
28949 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
28950 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
28951 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
28952 state="running"@}],
28953 current-thread-id="1"
28957 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
28958 @findex -thread-list-ids
28960 @subsubheading Synopsis
28966 Produces a list of the currently known global @value{GDBN} thread ids.
28967 At the end of the list it also prints the total number of such
28970 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
28971 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
28973 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28975 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
28977 @subsubheading Example
28982 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
28983 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
28988 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
28989 @findex -thread-select
28991 @subsubheading Synopsis
28994 -thread-select @var{thread-id}
28997 Make thread with global thread number @var{thread-id} the current
28998 thread. It prints the number of the new current thread, and the
28999 topmost frame for that thread.
29001 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
29002 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
29004 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29006 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
29008 @subsubheading Example
29015 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
29016 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
29020 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
29021 number-of-threads="3"
29024 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
29025 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
29026 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
29027 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
29031 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29032 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
29033 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
29035 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
29036 @findex -ada-task-info
29038 @subsubheading Synopsis
29041 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
29044 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
29045 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
29047 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29049 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
29050 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
29052 @subsubheading Result
29054 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
29055 defined for each Ada task:
29059 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
29062 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
29065 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
29068 The global thread identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada
29071 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
29072 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
29073 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
29076 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
29077 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
29080 The base priority of the task.
29083 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
29084 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
29087 The name of the task.
29091 @subsubheading Example
29095 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
29096 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
29097 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
29098 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
29099 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
29100 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
29101 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
29102 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
29103 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
29104 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
29105 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
29109 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29110 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
29111 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
29113 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
29114 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
29115 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
29118 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
29119 @findex -exec-continue
29121 @subsubheading Synopsis
29124 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
29127 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
29128 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
29129 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
29130 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
29133 breakpoints or watchpoints
29135 signals or exceptions
29137 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
29139 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
29141 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
29142 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
29143 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
29144 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
29145 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
29146 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
29148 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29150 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
29152 @subsubheading Example
29159 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
29160 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
29166 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
29167 @findex -exec-finish
29169 @subsubheading Synopsis
29172 -exec-finish [--reverse]
29175 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
29176 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
29177 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
29178 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
29179 function was called.
29181 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29183 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
29185 @subsubheading Example
29187 Function returning @code{void}.
29194 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
29195 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
29199 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
29200 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
29207 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
29208 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
29209 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29210 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
29215 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
29216 @findex -exec-interrupt
29218 @subsubheading Synopsis
29221 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
29224 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
29225 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
29226 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
29227 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
29228 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
29230 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
29231 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
29232 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
29233 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
29235 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
29236 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
29237 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
29238 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
29240 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29242 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
29244 @subsubheading Example
29255 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
29256 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29257 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
29262 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
29266 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
29269 @subsubheading Synopsis
29272 -exec-jump @var{location}
29275 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
29276 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
29277 different forms of @var{location}.
29279 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29281 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
29283 @subsubheading Example
29286 -exec-jump foo.c:10
29287 *running,thread-id="all"
29292 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
29295 @subsubheading Synopsis
29298 -exec-next [--reverse]
29301 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
29302 of the next source line is reached.
29304 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
29305 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
29306 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
29307 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
29308 source line where the function was called.
29311 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29313 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
29315 @subsubheading Example
29321 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
29326 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
29327 @findex -exec-next-instruction
29329 @subsubheading Synopsis
29332 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
29335 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
29336 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
29337 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
29340 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
29341 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
29342 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
29343 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
29344 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
29346 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29348 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
29350 @subsubheading Example
29354 -exec-next-instruction
29358 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29359 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
29364 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
29365 @findex -exec-return
29367 @subsubheading Synopsis
29373 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
29374 Displays the new current frame.
29376 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29378 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
29380 @subsubheading Example
29384 200-break-insert callee4
29385 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
29386 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29391 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29392 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
29393 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29394 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29400 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
29401 args=[@{name="strarg",
29402 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
29403 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29404 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
29409 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
29412 @subsubheading Synopsis
29415 -exec-run [ --all | --thread-group N ] [ --start ]
29418 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
29419 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
29420 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
29421 the program has exited exceptionally.
29423 When neither the @samp{--all} nor the @samp{--thread-group} option
29424 is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
29425 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
29426 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
29427 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
29429 Using the @samp{--start} option instructs the debugger to stop
29430 the execution at the start of the inferior's main subprogram,
29431 following the same behavior as the @code{start} command
29432 (@pxref{Starting}).
29434 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29436 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
29438 @subsubheading Examples
29443 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
29448 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29449 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
29450 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
29455 Program exited normally:
29463 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29468 Program exited exceptionally:
29476 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
29480 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
29481 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
29485 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
29486 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
29490 @c @subheading -exec-signal
29493 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
29496 @subsubheading Synopsis
29499 -exec-step [--reverse]
29502 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
29503 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
29504 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
29505 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
29506 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
29507 previously executed source line.
29509 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29511 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
29513 @subsubheading Example
29515 Stepping into a function:
29521 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29522 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
29523 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
29524 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
29534 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
29539 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
29540 @findex -exec-step-instruction
29542 @subsubheading Synopsis
29545 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
29548 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
29549 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
29550 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
29551 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
29552 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
29553 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
29556 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29558 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
29560 @subsubheading Example
29564 -exec-step-instruction
29568 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29569 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29570 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29572 -exec-step-instruction
29576 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29577 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29578 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29583 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
29584 @findex -exec-until
29586 @subsubheading Synopsis
29589 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
29592 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
29593 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
29594 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
29595 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
29597 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29599 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
29601 @subsubheading Example
29605 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
29609 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
29610 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
29615 @subheading -file-clear
29616 Is this going away????
29619 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29620 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
29621 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
29623 @subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
29624 @findex -enable-frame-filters
29627 -enable-frame-filters
29630 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
29631 the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
29632 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
29633 request that this functionality be enabled.
29635 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
29637 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
29638 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
29640 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
29641 @findex -stack-info-frame
29643 @subsubheading Synopsis
29649 Get info on the selected frame.
29651 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29653 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
29654 (without arguments).
29656 @subsubheading Example
29661 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
29662 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29663 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
29667 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
29668 @findex -stack-info-depth
29670 @subsubheading Synopsis
29673 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
29676 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
29677 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
29679 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29681 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
29683 @subsubheading Example
29685 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
29692 -stack-info-depth 4
29695 -stack-info-depth 12
29698 -stack-info-depth 11
29701 -stack-info-depth 13
29706 @anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
29707 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
29708 @findex -stack-list-arguments
29710 @subsubheading Synopsis
29713 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
29714 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
29717 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
29718 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
29719 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
29720 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
29721 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
29722 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
29723 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
29724 which case only existing frames will be returned.
29726 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29727 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29728 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29729 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29730 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
29731 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
29733 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, arguments that
29734 are not available are not listed. Partially available arguments
29735 are still displayed, however.
29737 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
29738 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
29740 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29742 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
29743 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
29744 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
29746 @subsubheading Example
29753 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
29754 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29755 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
29756 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
29757 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29758 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
29759 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
29760 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29761 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
29762 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
29763 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29764 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
29765 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
29766 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29767 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
29769 -stack-list-arguments 0
29772 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
29773 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
29774 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
29775 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
29776 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
29778 -stack-list-arguments 1
29781 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
29783 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
29784 frame=@{level="2",args=[
29785 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29786 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
29787 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
29788 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29789 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
29790 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
29791 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
29793 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
29794 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
29796 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
29797 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
29798 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29799 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
29803 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
29806 @anchor{-stack-list-frames}
29807 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
29808 @findex -stack-list-frames
29810 @subsubheading Synopsis
29813 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
29816 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
29821 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
29823 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
29827 File name of the source file where the function lives.
29828 @item @var{fullname}
29829 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
29831 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
29833 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
29834 if the frame's function is not known.
29837 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
29838 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
29839 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
29840 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
29841 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
29842 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
29843 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
29844 returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
29845 Python frame filters will not be executed.
29847 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29849 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
29851 @subsubheading Example
29853 Full stack backtrace:
29859 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
29860 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
29861 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29862 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29863 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29864 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29865 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29866 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29867 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29868 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29869 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29870 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29871 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29872 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29873 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29874 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29875 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29876 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29877 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29878 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29879 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29880 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29881 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
29882 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
29886 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
29890 -stack-list-frames 3 5
29892 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29893 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29894 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29895 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29896 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29897 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
29901 Show a single frame:
29905 -stack-list-frames 3 3
29907 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29908 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
29913 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
29914 @findex -stack-list-locals
29915 @anchor{-stack-list-locals}
29917 @subsubheading Synopsis
29920 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
29923 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
29924 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29925 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29926 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29927 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29928 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
29929 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
29930 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
29931 more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
29932 Python frame filters will not be executed.
29934 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
29935 that are not available are not listed. Partially available local
29936 variables are still displayed, however.
29938 This command is deprecated in favor of the
29939 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
29941 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29943 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
29945 @subsubheading Example
29949 -stack-list-locals 0
29950 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
29952 -stack-list-locals --all-values
29953 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
29954 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
29955 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
29956 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
29957 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
29961 @anchor{-stack-list-variables}
29962 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
29963 @findex -stack-list-variables
29965 @subsubheading Synopsis
29968 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
29971 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
29972 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29973 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29974 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29975 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29976 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
29977 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
29979 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
29980 and arguments that are not available are not listed. Partially
29981 available arguments and local variables are still displayed, however.
29983 @subsubheading Example
29987 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
29988 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
29993 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
29994 @findex -stack-select-frame
29996 @subsubheading Synopsis
29999 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
30002 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
30005 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
30006 option to every command.
30008 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30010 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
30011 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
30013 @subsubheading Example
30017 -stack-select-frame 2
30022 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30023 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
30024 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
30028 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
30030 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
30031 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
30032 used by @code{Insight}.
30034 The two main reasons for that are:
30038 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
30041 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
30045 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
30046 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
30047 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
30048 hints about their use.
30050 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
30051 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
30052 least, the following operations:
30055 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
30056 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
30057 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
30058 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
30063 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
30065 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
30067 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
30068 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
30069 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
30070 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
30071 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
30072 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
30073 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
30074 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
30075 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
30076 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
30077 object, or to change display format.
30079 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
30080 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
30081 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
30082 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
30083 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
30084 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
30085 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
30086 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
30087 child will be created.
30089 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
30090 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
30091 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
30092 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
30093 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
30095 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
30096 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
30097 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
30098 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
30099 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
30100 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
30101 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
30102 variables that frontend has created.
30104 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
30105 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
30106 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
30107 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
30108 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
30109 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
30110 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
30111 implicitly updated.
30113 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
30114 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
30115 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
30116 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
30117 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
30118 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
30119 frame. Consider this example:
30124 struct work_state state;
30131 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
30132 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
30133 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
30134 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
30135 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
30137 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
30138 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
30139 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
30140 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
30141 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
30142 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
30144 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
30145 access this functionality:
30147 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
30148 @item @strong{Operation}
30149 @tab @strong{Description}
30151 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
30152 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
30153 @item @code{-var-create}
30154 @tab create a variable object
30155 @item @code{-var-delete}
30156 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
30157 @item @code{-var-set-format}
30158 @tab set the display format of this variable
30159 @item @code{-var-show-format}
30160 @tab show the display format of this variable
30161 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
30162 @tab tells how many children this object has
30163 @item @code{-var-list-children}
30164 @tab return a list of the object's children
30165 @item @code{-var-info-type}
30166 @tab show the type of this variable object
30167 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
30168 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
30169 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
30170 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
30171 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
30172 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
30173 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
30174 @tab get the value of this variable
30175 @item @code{-var-assign}
30176 @tab set the value of this variable
30177 @item @code{-var-update}
30178 @tab update the variable and its children
30179 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
30180 @tab set frozeness attribute
30181 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
30182 @tab set range of children to display on update
30185 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
30186 how it can be used.
30188 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
30190 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
30191 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
30194 -enable-pretty-printing
30197 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
30198 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
30199 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
30200 request that this functionality be enabled.
30202 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
30204 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
30205 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
30207 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
30208 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
30210 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
30211 @findex -var-create
30213 @subsubheading Synopsis
30216 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
30217 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
30220 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
30221 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
30224 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
30225 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
30226 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
30227 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
30228 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
30230 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
30231 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
30232 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
30233 object must be created.
30235 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
30236 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
30240 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
30243 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
30246 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
30249 @cindex dynamic varobj
30250 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
30251 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
30252 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
30253 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
30254 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
30255 compatibility for existing clients.
30257 @subsubheading Result
30259 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
30264 The name of the varobj.
30267 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
30268 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
30269 @samp{has_more} attribute.
30272 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
30273 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
30274 will not be interesting.
30277 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
30278 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
30279 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
30280 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
30281 @emph{declared} one.
30284 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
30285 thread's global identifier.
30288 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
30289 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
30292 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
30293 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
30294 then this attribute will not be present.
30297 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
30298 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
30299 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
30302 Typical output will look like this:
30305 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
30306 has_more="@var{has_more}"
30310 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
30311 @findex -var-delete
30313 @subsubheading Synopsis
30316 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
30319 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
30320 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
30322 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
30325 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
30326 @findex -var-set-format
30328 @subsubheading Synopsis
30331 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
30334 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
30337 @anchor{-var-set-format}
30338 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
30341 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
30342 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural | zero-hexadecimal@}
30345 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
30346 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
30347 for pointers, etc.).
30349 The zero-hexadecimal format has a representation similar to hexadecimal
30350 but with padding zeroes to the left of the value. For example, a 32-bit
30351 hexadecimal value of 0x1234 would be represented as 0x00001234 in the
30352 zero-hexadecimal format.
30354 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
30355 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
30357 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
30358 @findex -var-show-format
30360 @subsubheading Synopsis
30363 -var-show-format @var{name}
30366 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
30369 @var{format} @expansion{}
30374 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
30375 @findex -var-info-num-children
30377 @subsubheading Synopsis
30380 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
30383 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
30389 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
30390 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
30394 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
30395 @findex -var-list-children
30397 @subsubheading Synopsis
30400 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
30402 @anchor{-var-list-children}
30404 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
30405 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
30406 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
30407 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
30408 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
30409 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
30410 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
30413 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
30414 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
30415 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
30416 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
30419 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
30420 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
30421 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
30422 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
30423 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
30424 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
30425 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
30426 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
30429 For each child the following results are returned:
30434 Name of the variable object created for this child.
30437 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
30438 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
30440 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
30441 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
30443 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
30444 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
30445 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
30446 type and value are not present.
30448 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
30449 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
30450 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
30453 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
30457 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
30458 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
30459 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
30460 @emph{declared} one.
30463 If values were requested, this is the value.
30466 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the
30467 thread's global thread id. Otherwise this result is not present.
30470 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
30473 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
30474 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
30475 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
30478 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
30479 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
30480 then this attribute will not be present.
30484 The result may have its own attributes:
30488 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
30489 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
30490 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
30493 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
30494 remaining after the end of the selected range.
30497 @subsubheading Example
30501 -var-list-children n
30502 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
30503 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
30505 -var-list-children --all-values n
30506 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
30507 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
30511 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
30512 @findex -var-info-type
30514 @subsubheading Synopsis
30517 -var-info-type @var{name}
30520 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
30521 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
30525 type=@var{typename}
30529 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
30530 @findex -var-info-expression
30532 @subsubheading Synopsis
30535 -var-info-expression @var{name}
30538 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
30539 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
30540 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
30542 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
30543 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
30546 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
30547 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
30551 Here, the value of @code{lang} is the language name, which can be
30552 found in @ref{Supported Languages}.
30554 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
30555 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
30558 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
30559 @findex -var-info-path-expression
30561 @subsubheading Synopsis
30564 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
30567 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
30568 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
30569 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
30570 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
30571 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
30572 watchpoint from a variable object.
30574 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
30575 and will give an error when invoked on one.
30577 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
30578 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
30579 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
30580 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
30581 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
30583 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
30584 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
30587 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
30588 @findex -var-show-attributes
30590 @subsubheading Synopsis
30593 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
30596 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
30599 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
30603 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
30605 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
30606 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
30608 @subsubheading Synopsis
30611 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
30614 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
30615 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
30616 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
30617 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
30618 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
30619 the current display format will be used. The current display format
30620 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
30626 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
30627 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
30629 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
30630 @findex -var-assign
30632 @subsubheading Synopsis
30635 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
30638 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
30639 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
30640 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
30641 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
30643 @subsubheading Example
30651 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
30655 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
30656 @findex -var-update
30658 @subsubheading Synopsis
30661 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
30664 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
30665 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
30666 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
30667 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
30668 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
30669 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
30670 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
30671 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
30672 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
30673 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
30674 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
30675 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
30676 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
30678 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
30679 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
30682 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
30683 only the selected range of children will be reported.
30685 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
30688 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
30692 The name of the varobj.
30695 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
30696 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
30699 @anchor{-var-update}
30700 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
30704 The variable object's current value is valid.
30707 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
30708 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
30712 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
30713 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
30714 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
30715 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
30719 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
30720 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
30723 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
30724 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
30727 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
30728 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
30729 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
30730 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
30734 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
30737 @item new_num_children
30738 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
30739 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
30741 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
30742 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
30743 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
30744 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
30745 children which may be available.
30747 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
30748 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
30749 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
30750 only happen at the end of the update range).
30753 The display hint, if any.
30756 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
30757 available outside the varobj's update range.
30760 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
30761 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
30762 then this attribute will not be present.
30765 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
30766 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
30767 be listed in this attribute.
30770 @subsubheading Example
30777 -var-update --all-values var1
30778 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
30779 type_changed="false"@}]
30783 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
30784 @findex -var-set-frozen
30785 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
30787 @subsubheading Synopsis
30790 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
30793 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
30794 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
30795 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
30796 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
30797 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
30798 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
30799 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
30800 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
30801 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
30802 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
30803 @code{-var-update} does.
30805 @subsubheading Example
30809 -var-set-frozen V 1
30814 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
30815 @findex -var-set-update-range
30816 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
30818 @subsubheading Synopsis
30821 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
30824 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
30825 @code{-var-update}.
30827 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
30828 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
30829 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
30830 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
30832 @subsubheading Example
30836 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
30840 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
30841 @findex -var-set-visualizer
30842 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
30844 @subsubheading Synopsis
30847 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
30850 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
30852 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
30853 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
30855 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
30856 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
30857 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
30858 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
30859 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
30860 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
30861 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
30863 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
30864 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
30865 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
30866 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
30868 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
30869 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Support Commands})
30870 can be used to check this.
30872 @subsubheading Example
30874 Resetting the visualizer:
30878 -var-set-visualizer V None
30882 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
30886 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
30890 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
30891 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
30895 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
30899 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30900 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
30901 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
30903 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
30904 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
30905 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
30906 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
30908 For details about what an addressable memory unit is,
30909 @pxref{addressable memory unit}.
30911 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
30912 @c @subheading -data-assign
30913 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
30914 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
30916 @c @subsubheading Example
30919 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
30920 @findex -data-disassemble
30922 @subsubheading Synopsis
30926 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
30927 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
30935 @item @var{start-addr}
30936 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
30937 @item @var{end-addr}
30939 @item @var{filename}
30940 is the name of the file to disassemble
30941 @item @var{linenum}
30942 is the line number to disassemble around
30944 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
30945 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
30946 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
30947 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
30948 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
30949 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
30950 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
30955 @item 0 disassembly only
30956 @item 1 mixed source and disassembly (deprecated)
30957 @item 2 disassembly with raw opcodes
30958 @item 3 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes (deprecated)
30959 @item 4 mixed source and disassembly
30960 @item 5 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes
30963 Modes 1 and 3 are deprecated. The output is ``source centric''
30964 which hasn't proved useful in practice.
30965 @xref{Machine Code}, for a discussion of the difference between
30966 @code{/m} and @code{/s} output of the @code{disassemble} command.
30969 @subsubheading Result
30971 The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
30972 @samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
30973 used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
30975 For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
30980 The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
30983 The name of the function this instruction is within.
30986 The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
30989 The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
30992 This field is only present for modes 2, 3 and 5. This contains the raw opcode
30993 bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
30997 For modes 1, 3, 4 and 5 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
30998 @samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
31002 The line number within @samp{file}.
31005 The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
31006 file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
31010 Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
31011 using the source file search path
31012 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
31013 and after resolving all the symbolic links.
31015 If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
31016 present in the debug information.
31018 @item line_asm_insn
31019 This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
31020 @samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
31021 @code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
31022 @samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
31027 Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
31028 manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
31031 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31033 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
31035 @subsubheading Example
31037 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
31041 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
31044 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
31045 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31046 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31047 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
31048 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
31049 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
31050 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
31051 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
31052 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
31053 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
31057 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
31061 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
31063 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
31064 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
31065 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
31066 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31067 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31068 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
31070 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
31071 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
31075 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
31079 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
31081 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
31082 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
31083 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
31084 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31085 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31086 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
31090 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
31094 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
31096 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
31097 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31098 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31099 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
31100 func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
31101 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
31102 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31103 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31104 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
31105 func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
31106 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
31107 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
31112 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
31113 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
31115 @subsubheading Synopsis
31118 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
31121 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
31122 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
31123 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
31125 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31127 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
31128 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
31129 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
31131 @subsubheading Example
31133 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
31134 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
31135 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
31139 211-data-evaluate-expression A
31142 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
31143 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
31145 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
31148 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
31154 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
31155 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
31157 @subsubheading Synopsis
31160 -data-list-changed-registers
31163 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
31165 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31167 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
31168 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
31170 @subsubheading Example
31172 On a PPC MBX board:
31180 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
31181 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
31184 -data-list-changed-registers
31185 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
31186 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
31187 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
31192 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
31193 @findex -data-list-register-names
31195 @subsubheading Synopsis
31198 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
31201 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
31202 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
31203 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
31204 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
31205 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
31206 include empty register names.
31208 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31210 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
31211 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
31212 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
31214 @subsubheading Example
31216 For the PPC MBX board:
31219 -data-list-register-names
31220 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
31221 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
31222 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
31223 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
31224 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
31225 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
31226 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
31228 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
31229 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
31233 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
31234 @findex -data-list-register-values
31236 @subsubheading Synopsis
31239 -data-list-register-values
31240 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
31243 Display the registers' contents. The format according to which the
31244 registers' contents are to be returned is given by @var{fmt}, followed
31245 by an optional list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A
31246 missing list of numbers indicates that the contents of all the
31247 registers must be returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option
31248 indicates that only the available registers are to be returned.
31250 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
31267 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31269 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
31270 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
31272 @subsubheading Example
31274 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
31275 don't appear in the actual output):
31279 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
31280 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
31281 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
31283 -data-list-register-values x
31284 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
31285 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
31286 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
31287 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
31288 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
31289 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
31290 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
31291 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
31292 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
31293 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
31294 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
31295 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
31296 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
31297 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
31298 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
31299 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
31300 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
31301 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
31302 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
31303 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
31304 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
31305 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
31306 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
31307 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
31308 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
31309 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
31310 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
31311 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
31312 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
31313 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
31314 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
31315 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
31316 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
31317 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
31318 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
31319 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
31324 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
31325 @findex -data-read-memory
31327 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
31329 @subsubheading Synopsis
31332 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
31333 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
31334 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
31341 @item @var{address}
31342 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31343 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31344 quoted using the C convention.
31346 @item @var{word-format}
31347 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
31348 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
31351 @item @var{word-size}
31352 The size of each memory word in bytes.
31354 @item @var{nr-rows}
31355 The number of rows in the output table.
31357 @item @var{nr-cols}
31358 The number of columns in the output table.
31361 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
31362 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
31363 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
31364 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
31366 @item @var{byte-offset}
31367 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
31370 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
31371 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
31372 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
31373 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
31374 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
31375 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
31376 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
31379 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
31380 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
31383 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31385 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
31386 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
31388 @subsubheading Example
31390 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
31391 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
31392 word. Display each word in hex.
31396 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
31397 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
31398 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
31399 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
31400 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
31401 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
31402 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
31406 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
31407 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
31411 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
31412 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
31413 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
31414 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
31415 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
31419 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
31420 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
31421 used as the non-printable character.
31425 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
31426 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
31427 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
31428 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
31429 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31430 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31431 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31432 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
31433 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
31434 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
31435 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
31436 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
31440 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
31441 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
31443 @subsubheading Synopsis
31446 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{offset} ]
31447 @var{address} @var{count}
31454 @item @var{address}
31455 An expression specifying the address of the first addressable memory unit
31456 to be read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31457 quoted using the C convention.
31460 The number of addressable memory units to read. This should be an integer
31464 The offset relative to @var{address} at which to start reading. This
31465 should be an integer literal. This option is provided so that a frontend
31466 is not required to first evaluate address and then perform address
31467 arithmetics itself.
31471 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
31472 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
31473 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
31474 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
31475 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
31476 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
31478 In general, every single memory unit in the region may be readable or not,
31479 and the only way to read every readable unit is to try a read at
31480 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
31481 attempt to read all accessible memory units at either beginning or the end
31482 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
31483 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
31484 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
31485 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
31487 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
31488 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
31489 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
31490 and has the following fields:
31494 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
31497 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
31500 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
31501 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
31504 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
31510 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31512 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
31514 @subsubheading Example
31518 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
31519 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
31521 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
31526 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
31527 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
31529 @subsubheading Synopsis
31532 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
31533 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
31540 @item @var{address}
31541 An expression specifying the address of the first addressable memory unit
31542 to be written. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should
31543 be quoted using the C convention.
31545 @item @var{contents}
31546 The hex-encoded data to write. It is an error if @var{contents} does
31547 not represent an integral number of addressable memory units.
31550 Optional argument indicating the number of addressable memory units to be
31551 written. If @var{count} is greater than @var{contents}' length,
31552 @value{GDBN} will repeatedly write @var{contents} until it fills
31553 @var{count} memory units.
31557 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31559 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31561 @subsubheading Example
31565 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
31572 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
31577 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31578 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
31579 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
31581 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
31582 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
31584 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
31585 @findex -trace-find
31587 @subsubheading Synopsis
31590 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
31593 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
31594 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
31595 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
31600 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
31603 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
31606 @item tracepoint-number
31607 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
31608 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
31611 An address is required as parameter. Finds
31612 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
31615 @item pc-inside-range
31616 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
31617 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
31618 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31620 @item pc-outside-range
31621 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
31622 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
31623 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31626 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
31627 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
31628 the specified location.
31632 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
31633 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
31637 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
31638 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
31641 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
31642 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31645 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
31646 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31649 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
31650 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
31651 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
31655 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31657 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
31659 @subheading -trace-define-variable
31660 @findex -trace-define-variable
31662 @subsubheading Synopsis
31665 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
31668 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
31669 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
31670 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
31671 with the @samp{$} character.
31673 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31675 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
31677 @subheading The @code{-trace-frame-collected} Command
31678 @findex -trace-frame-collected
31680 @subsubheading Synopsis
31683 -trace-frame-collected
31684 [--var-print-values @var{var_pval}]
31685 [--comp-print-values @var{comp_pval}]
31686 [--registers-format @var{regformat}]
31687 [--memory-contents]
31690 This command returns the set of collected objects, register names,
31691 trace state variable names, memory ranges and computed expressions
31692 that have been collected at a particular trace frame. The optional
31693 parameters to the command affect the output format in different ways.
31694 See the output description table below for more details.
31696 The reported names can be used in the normal manner to create
31697 varobjs and inspect the objects themselves. The items returned by
31698 this command are categorized so that it is clear which is a variable,
31699 which is a register, which is a trace state variable, which is a
31700 memory range and which is a computed expression.
31702 For instance, if the actions were
31704 collect myVar, myArray[myIndex], myObj.field, myPtr->field, myCount + 2
31705 collect *(int*)0xaf02bef0@@40
31709 the object collected in its entirety would be @code{myVar}. The
31710 object @code{myArray} would be partially collected, because only the
31711 element at index @code{myIndex} would be collected. The remaining
31712 objects would be computed expressions.
31714 An example output would be:
31718 -trace-frame-collected
31720 explicit-variables=[@{name="myVar",value="1"@}],
31721 computed-expressions=[@{name="myArray[myIndex]",value="0"@},
31722 @{name="myObj.field",value="0"@},
31723 @{name="myPtr->field",value="1"@},
31724 @{name="myCount + 2",value="3"@},
31725 @{name="$tvar1 + 1",value="43970027"@}],
31726 registers=[@{number="0",value="0x7fe2c6e79ec8"@},
31727 @{number="1",value="0x0"@},
31728 @{number="2",value="0x4"@},
31730 @{number="125",value="0x0"@}],
31731 tvars=[@{name="$tvar1",current="43970026"@}],
31732 memory=[@{address="0x0000000000602264",length="4"@},
31733 @{address="0x0000000000615bc0",length="4"@}]
31740 @item explicit-variables
31741 The set of objects that have been collected in their entirety (as
31742 opposed to collecting just a few elements of an array or a few struct
31743 members). For each object, its name and value are printed.
31744 The @code{--var-print-values} option affects how or whether the value
31745 field is output. If @var{var_pval} is 0, then print only the names;
31746 if it is 1, print also their values; and if it is 2, print the name,
31747 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for
31748 arrays, structures and unions.
31750 @item computed-expressions
31751 The set of computed expressions that have been collected at the
31752 current trace frame. The @code{--comp-print-values} option affects
31753 this set like the @code{--var-print-values} option affects the
31754 @code{explicit-variables} set. See above.
31757 The registers that have been collected at the current trace frame.
31758 For each register collected, the name and current value are returned.
31759 The value is formatted according to the @code{--registers-format}
31760 option. See the @command{-data-list-register-values} command for a
31761 list of the allowed formats. The default is @samp{x}.
31764 The trace state variables that have been collected at the current
31765 trace frame. For each trace state variable collected, the name and
31766 current value are returned.
31769 The set of memory ranges that have been collected at the current trace
31770 frame. Its content is a list of tuples. Each tuple represents a
31771 collected memory range and has the following fields:
31775 The start address of the memory range, as hexadecimal literal.
31778 The length of the memory range, as decimal literal.
31781 The contents of the memory block, in hex. This field is only present
31782 if the @code{--memory-contents} option is specified.
31788 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31790 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31792 @subsubheading Example
31794 @subheading -trace-list-variables
31795 @findex -trace-list-variables
31797 @subsubheading Synopsis
31800 -trace-list-variables
31803 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
31804 table has the following fields:
31808 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
31811 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
31812 field is always present.
31815 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
31816 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
31817 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
31822 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31824 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
31826 @subsubheading Example
31830 -trace-list-variables
31831 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
31832 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
31833 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
31834 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
31835 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
31836 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
31840 @subheading -trace-save
31841 @findex -trace-save
31843 @subsubheading Synopsis
31846 -trace-save [ -r ] [ -ctf ] @var{filename}
31849 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
31850 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
31851 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
31852 to perform the save.
31854 By default, this command will save the trace in the tfile format. You can
31855 supply the optional @samp{-ctf} argument to save it the CTF format. See
31856 @ref{Trace Files} for more information about CTF.
31858 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31860 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
31863 @subheading -trace-start
31864 @findex -trace-start
31866 @subsubheading Synopsis
31872 Starts a tracing experiment. The result of this command does not
31875 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31877 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
31879 @subheading -trace-status
31880 @findex -trace-status
31882 @subsubheading Synopsis
31888 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
31889 the following fields:
31894 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
31895 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
31896 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
31897 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
31898 started. This field is always present.
31901 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
31902 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
31903 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
31906 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
31907 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
31908 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
31909 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
31910 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
31911 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
31912 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
31913 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
31914 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
31916 @item stopping-tracepoint
31917 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
31918 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
31922 @itemx frames-created
31923 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
31924 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
31925 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
31926 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
31930 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
31931 remaining space. These fields are optional.
31934 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
31935 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
31936 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
31940 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
31941 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
31942 that the trace run will stop.
31945 The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
31946 optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
31950 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31952 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
31954 @subheading -trace-stop
31955 @findex -trace-stop
31957 @subsubheading Synopsis
31963 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
31964 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
31965 @samp{running} fields are not output.
31967 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31969 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
31972 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31973 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
31974 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
31978 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
31979 @findex -symbol-info-address
31981 @subsubheading Synopsis
31984 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
31987 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
31989 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31991 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
31993 @subsubheading Example
31997 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
31998 @findex -symbol-info-file
32000 @subsubheading Synopsis
32006 Show the file for the symbol.
32008 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32010 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
32011 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
32013 @subsubheading Example
32017 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
32018 @findex -symbol-info-function
32020 @subsubheading Synopsis
32023 -symbol-info-function
32026 Show which function the symbol lives in.
32028 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32030 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
32032 @subsubheading Example
32036 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
32037 @findex -symbol-info-line
32039 @subsubheading Synopsis
32045 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
32047 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32049 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
32050 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
32052 @subsubheading Example
32056 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
32057 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
32059 @subsubheading Synopsis
32062 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
32065 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
32067 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32069 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
32071 @subsubheading Example
32075 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
32076 @findex -symbol-list-functions
32078 @subsubheading Synopsis
32081 -symbol-list-functions
32084 List the functions in the executable.
32086 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32088 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
32089 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
32091 @subsubheading Example
32096 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
32097 @findex -symbol-list-lines
32099 @subsubheading Synopsis
32102 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
32105 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
32106 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
32107 ascending PC order.
32109 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32111 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
32113 @subsubheading Example
32116 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
32117 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
32123 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
32124 @findex -symbol-list-types
32126 @subsubheading Synopsis
32132 List all the type names.
32134 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32136 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
32137 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
32139 @subsubheading Example
32143 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
32144 @findex -symbol-list-variables
32146 @subsubheading Synopsis
32149 -symbol-list-variables
32152 List all the global and static variable names.
32154 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32156 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
32158 @subsubheading Example
32162 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
32163 @findex -symbol-locate
32165 @subsubheading Synopsis
32171 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32173 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
32175 @subsubheading Example
32179 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
32180 @findex -symbol-type
32182 @subsubheading Synopsis
32185 -symbol-type @var{variable}
32188 Show type of @var{variable}.
32190 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32192 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
32193 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
32195 @subsubheading Example
32200 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32201 @node GDB/MI File Commands
32202 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
32204 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
32205 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
32207 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
32208 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
32210 @subsubheading Synopsis
32213 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
32216 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
32217 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
32218 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
32219 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
32220 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
32223 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32225 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
32227 @subsubheading Example
32231 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
32237 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
32238 @findex -file-exec-file
32240 @subsubheading Synopsis
32243 -file-exec-file @var{file}
32246 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
32247 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
32248 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
32249 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
32252 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32254 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
32256 @subsubheading Example
32260 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
32267 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
32268 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
32270 @subsubheading Synopsis
32273 -file-list-exec-sections
32276 List the sections of the current executable file.
32278 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32280 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
32281 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
32282 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
32284 @subsubheading Example
32289 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
32290 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
32292 @subsubheading Synopsis
32295 -file-list-exec-source-file
32298 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
32299 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
32300 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
32301 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
32303 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32305 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
32307 @subsubheading Example
32311 123-file-list-exec-source-file
32312 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
32317 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
32318 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
32320 @subsubheading Synopsis
32323 -file-list-exec-source-files
32326 List the source files for the current executable.
32328 It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
32329 name) of a source file.
32331 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32333 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
32334 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
32336 @subsubheading Example
32339 -file-list-exec-source-files
32341 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
32342 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
32343 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
32347 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
32348 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
32350 @subsubheading Synopsis
32353 -file-list-shared-libraries [ @var{regexp} ]
32356 List the shared libraries in the program.
32357 With a regular expression @var{regexp}, only those libraries whose
32358 names match @var{regexp} are listed.
32360 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32362 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}. The fields
32363 have a similar meaning to the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
32364 The @code{ranges} field specifies the multiple segments belonging to this
32365 library. Each range has the following fields:
32369 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the segment.
32371 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the segment.
32374 @subsubheading Example
32377 -file-list-exec-source-files
32378 ^done,shared-libraries=[
32379 @{id="/lib/libfoo.so",target-name="/lib/libfoo.so",host-name="/lib/libfoo.so",symbols-loaded="1",thread-group="i1",ranges=[@{from="0x72815989",to="0x728162c0"@}]@},
32380 @{id="/lib/libbar.so",target-name="/lib/libbar.so",host-name="/lib/libbar.so",symbols-loaded="1",thread-group="i1",ranges=[@{from="0x76ee48c0",to="0x76ee9160"@}]@}]
32386 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
32387 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
32389 @subsubheading Synopsis
32392 -file-list-symbol-files
32397 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32399 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
32401 @subsubheading Example
32406 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
32407 @findex -file-symbol-file
32409 @subsubheading Synopsis
32412 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
32415 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
32416 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
32417 produced, except for a completion notification.
32419 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32421 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
32423 @subsubheading Example
32427 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
32433 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32434 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
32435 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
32437 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
32439 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
32441 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
32443 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
32445 @c @subheading -overlay-map
32447 @c @subheading -overlay-off
32449 @c @subheading -overlay-on
32451 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
32453 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32454 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
32455 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
32457 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
32459 @c @subheading -signal-handle
32461 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
32463 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
32467 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32468 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
32469 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
32472 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
32473 @findex -target-attach
32475 @subsubheading Synopsis
32478 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
32481 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
32482 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
32483 group, the id previously returned by
32484 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
32486 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32488 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
32490 @subsubheading Example
32494 =thread-created,id="1"
32495 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
32501 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
32502 @findex -target-compare-sections
32504 @subsubheading Synopsis
32507 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
32510 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
32511 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
32513 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32515 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
32517 @subsubheading Example
32522 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
32523 @findex -target-detach
32525 @subsubheading Synopsis
32528 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
32531 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
32532 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
32533 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
32535 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32537 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
32539 @subsubheading Example
32549 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
32550 @findex -target-disconnect
32552 @subsubheading Synopsis
32558 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
32559 generally not resumed.
32561 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32563 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
32565 @subsubheading Example
32575 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
32576 @findex -target-download
32578 @subsubheading Synopsis
32584 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
32585 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
32589 The name of the section.
32591 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
32593 The size of the section.
32595 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
32597 The size of the overall executable to download.
32601 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
32602 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
32604 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
32605 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
32609 The name of the section.
32611 The size of the section.
32613 The size of the overall executable to download.
32617 At the end, a summary is printed.
32619 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32621 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
32623 @subsubheading Example
32625 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
32626 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
32631 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
32632 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
32633 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
32634 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
32635 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
32636 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
32637 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
32638 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
32639 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
32640 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
32641 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
32642 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
32643 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
32644 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
32645 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
32646 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
32647 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
32648 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
32649 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
32650 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
32651 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
32652 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
32653 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
32654 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
32655 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
32656 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
32657 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
32658 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
32659 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
32660 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
32661 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
32662 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
32663 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
32664 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
32665 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
32666 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
32667 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
32668 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
32669 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
32670 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
32671 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
32672 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
32673 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
32680 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
32681 @findex -target-exec-status
32683 @subsubheading Synopsis
32686 -target-exec-status
32689 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
32690 not, for instance).
32692 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32694 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
32696 @subsubheading Example
32700 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
32701 @findex -target-list-available-targets
32703 @subsubheading Synopsis
32706 -target-list-available-targets
32709 List the possible targets to connect to.
32711 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32713 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
32715 @subsubheading Example
32719 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
32720 @findex -target-list-current-targets
32722 @subsubheading Synopsis
32725 -target-list-current-targets
32728 Describe the current target.
32730 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32732 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
32735 @subsubheading Example
32739 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
32740 @findex -target-list-parameters
32742 @subsubheading Synopsis
32745 -target-list-parameters
32751 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32755 @subsubheading Example
32758 @subheading The @code{-target-flash-erase} Command
32759 @findex -target-flash-erase
32761 @subsubheading Synopsis
32764 -target-flash-erase
32767 Erases all known flash memory regions on the target.
32769 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{flash-erase}.
32771 The output is a list of flash regions that have been erased, with starting
32772 addresses and memory region sizes.
32776 -target-flash-erase
32777 ^done,erased-regions=@{address="0x0",size="0x40000"@}
32781 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
32782 @findex -target-select
32784 @subsubheading Synopsis
32787 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
32790 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
32794 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
32795 @item @var{parameters}
32796 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
32797 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
32800 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
32801 which the target program is, in the following form:
32804 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
32805 args=[@var{arg list}]
32808 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32810 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
32812 @subsubheading Example
32816 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
32817 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
32821 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32822 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
32823 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
32826 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
32827 @findex -target-file-put
32829 @subsubheading Synopsis
32832 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
32835 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
32836 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
32838 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32840 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
32842 @subsubheading Example
32846 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
32852 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
32853 @findex -target-file-get
32855 @subsubheading Synopsis
32858 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
32861 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
32862 on the host system.
32864 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32866 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
32868 @subsubheading Example
32872 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
32878 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
32879 @findex -target-file-delete
32881 @subsubheading Synopsis
32884 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
32887 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
32889 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32891 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
32893 @subsubheading Example
32897 -target-file-delete remotefile
32903 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32904 @node GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands
32905 @section Ada Exceptions @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
32907 @subheading The @code{-info-ada-exceptions} Command
32908 @findex -info-ada-exceptions
32910 @subsubheading Synopsis
32913 -info-ada-exceptions [ @var{regexp}]
32916 List all Ada exceptions defined within the program being debugged.
32917 With a regular expression @var{regexp}, only those exceptions whose
32918 names match @var{regexp} are listed.
32920 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32922 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info exceptions}.
32924 @subsubheading Result
32926 The result is a table of Ada exceptions. The following columns are
32927 defined for each exception:
32931 The name of the exception.
32934 The address of the exception.
32938 @subsubheading Example
32941 -info-ada-exceptions aint
32942 ^done,ada-exceptions=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="2",
32943 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
32944 @{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="address",colhdr="Address"@}],
32945 body=[@{name="constraint_error",address="0x0000000000613da0"@},
32946 @{name="const.aint_global_e",address="0x0000000000613b00"@}]@}
32949 @subheading Catching Ada Exceptions
32951 The commands describing how to ask @value{GDBN} to stop when a program
32952 raises an exception are described at @ref{Ada Exception GDB/MI
32953 Catchpoint Commands}.
32956 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32957 @node GDB/MI Support Commands
32958 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Support Commands
32960 Since new commands and features get regularly added to @sc{gdb/mi},
32961 some commands are available to help front-ends query the debugger
32962 about support for these capabilities. Similarly, it is also possible
32963 to query @value{GDBN} about target support of certain features.
32965 @subheading The @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} Command
32966 @cindex @code{-info-gdb-mi-command}
32967 @findex -info-gdb-mi-command
32969 @subsubheading Synopsis
32972 -info-gdb-mi-command @var{cmd_name}
32975 Query support for the @sc{gdb/mi} command named @var{cmd_name}.
32977 Note that the dash (@code{-}) starting all @sc{gdb/mi} commands
32978 is technically not part of the command name (@pxref{GDB/MI Input
32979 Syntax}), and thus should be omitted in @var{cmd_name}. However,
32980 for ease of use, this command also accepts the form with the leading
32983 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32985 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
32987 @subsubheading Result
32989 The result is a tuple. There is currently only one field:
32993 This field is equal to @code{"true"} if the @sc{gdb/mi} command exists,
32994 @code{"false"} otherwise.
32998 @subsubheading Example
33000 Here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command does not exist:
33003 -info-gdb-mi-command unsupported-command
33004 ^done,command=@{exists="false"@}
33008 And here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command is known
33012 -info-gdb-mi-command symbol-list-lines
33013 ^done,command=@{exists="true"@}
33016 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
33017 @findex -list-features
33018 @cindex supported @sc{gdb/mi} features, list
33020 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
33021 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
33022 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
33023 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
33024 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
33027 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
33028 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
33029 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
33035 (gdb) -list-features
33036 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
33039 The current list of features is:
33042 @item frozen-varobjs
33043 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
33044 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
33045 of @code{-varobj-create}.
33046 @item pending-breakpoints
33047 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
33050 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
33051 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
33052 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
33054 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
33055 @item data-read-memory-bytes
33056 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
33057 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
33058 @item breakpoint-notifications
33059 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
33060 CLI will be announced via async records.
33061 @item ada-task-info
33062 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
33063 @item language-option
33064 Indicates that all @sc{gdb/mi} commands accept the @option{--language}
33065 option (@pxref{Context management}).
33066 @item info-gdb-mi-command
33067 Indicates support for the @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} command.
33068 @item undefined-command-error-code
33069 Indicates support for the "undefined-command" error code in error result
33070 records, produced when trying to execute an undefined @sc{gdb/mi} command
33071 (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}).
33072 @item exec-run-start-option
33073 Indicates that the @code{-exec-run} command supports the @option{--start}
33074 option (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}).
33077 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
33078 @findex -list-target-features
33080 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
33081 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
33082 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
33083 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
33084 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
33085 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
33086 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
33090 (gdb) -list-target-features
33091 ^done,result=["async"]
33094 The current list of features is:
33098 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
33099 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
33100 while the target is running.
33103 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
33104 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33108 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33109 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
33110 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
33112 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
33114 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
33117 @subsubheading Synopsis
33123 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
33125 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33127 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
33129 @subsubheading Example
33139 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
33140 @findex -exec-abort
33142 @subsubheading Synopsis
33148 Kill the inferior running program.
33150 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33152 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
33154 @subsubheading Example
33159 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
33162 @subsubheading Synopsis
33168 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
33169 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
33171 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33173 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
33175 @subsubheading Example
33185 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
33188 @subsubheading Synopsis
33194 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
33196 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33198 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
33200 @subsubheading Example
33209 @c @subheading -gdb-source
33212 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
33213 @findex -gdb-version
33215 @subsubheading Synopsis
33221 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
33223 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33225 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
33226 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
33228 @subsubheading Example
33230 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
33236 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
33237 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
33238 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
33239 ~ certain conditions.
33240 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
33241 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
33243 ~This GDB was configured as
33244 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
33249 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
33250 @findex -list-thread-groups
33252 @subheading Synopsis
33255 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
33258 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
33259 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
33260 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
33261 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
33262 top-level thread groups.
33264 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
33265 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
33266 available on the target.
33268 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
33269 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
33270 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
33271 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
33272 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
33273 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
33274 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
33275 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
33277 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
33278 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
33279 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
33280 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
33281 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
33282 @samp{threads} field.
33284 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
33285 the following caveats:
33289 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
33290 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
33291 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
33294 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
33295 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
33296 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
33297 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
33298 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
33299 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
33303 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
33304 have the following fields:
33308 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
33309 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
33310 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
33313 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
33317 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
33318 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
33321 The exit code of this group's last exited thread, formatted in octal.
33322 This field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process} and
33323 only if the process is not running.
33326 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
33327 absent for an available thread group.
33330 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
33331 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
33332 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
33335 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
33336 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
33337 such information is not available.
33340 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
33341 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
33342 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
33346 @subheading Example
33350 -list-thread-groups
33351 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
33352 -list-thread-groups 17
33353 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
33354 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
33355 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
33356 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
33357 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
33358 -list-thread-groups --available
33359 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
33360 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
33361 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
33362 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
33363 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
33364 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
33365 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
33366 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
33367 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
33370 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
33373 @subsubheading Synopsis
33376 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
33379 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
33380 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
33381 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
33382 of data of that type.
33384 The types of information available depend on the target operating
33387 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33389 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
33391 @subsubheading Example
33393 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
33399 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="10",nr_cols="3",
33400 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
33401 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
33402 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
33403 body=[item=@{col0="cpus",col1="Listing of all cpus/cores on the system",
33405 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
33406 col2="File descriptors"@},
33407 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
33408 col2="Kernel modules"@},
33409 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
33410 col2="Message queues"@},
33411 item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
33412 col2="Processes"@},
33413 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
33414 col2="Process groups"@},
33415 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
33416 col2="Semaphores"@},
33417 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
33418 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
33419 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
33421 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
33425 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
33426 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
33427 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
33428 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
33429 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
33430 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
33431 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
33432 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
33434 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
33435 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
33439 (Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
33440 does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
33441 for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
33442 popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
33443 @code{info os} omits it.)
33445 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
33446 @findex -add-inferior
33448 @subheading Synopsis
33454 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
33455 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
33456 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
33457 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
33458 field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
33459 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
33461 @subheading Example
33466 ^done,inferior="i3"
33469 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
33470 @findex -interpreter-exec
33472 @subheading Synopsis
33475 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
33477 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
33479 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
33481 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33483 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
33485 @subheading Example
33489 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
33490 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
33491 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
33492 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
33497 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
33498 @findex -inferior-tty-set
33500 @subheading Synopsis
33503 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
33506 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
33508 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33510 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
33512 @subheading Example
33516 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
33521 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
33522 @findex -inferior-tty-show
33524 @subheading Synopsis
33530 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
33532 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33534 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
33536 @subheading Example
33540 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
33544 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
33548 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
33549 @findex -enable-timings
33551 @subheading Synopsis
33554 -enable-timings [yes | no]
33557 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
33558 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
33559 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
33560 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
33562 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
33566 @subheading Example
33574 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
33575 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
33576 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
33578 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
33586 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
33587 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
33588 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
33589 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
33594 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
33596 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
33597 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
33598 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
33599 relatively high level.
33601 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
33605 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
33609 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
33610 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
33611 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
33612 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
33613 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
33614 * Annotations for Running::
33615 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
33616 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
33619 @node Annotations Overview
33620 @section What is an Annotation?
33621 @cindex annotations
33623 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
33624 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
33625 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
33626 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
33627 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
33628 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
33629 cannot contain newline characters.
33631 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
33632 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
33633 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
33634 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
33635 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
33636 means those three characters as output.
33638 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
33639 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
33640 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
33641 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
33642 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
33643 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
33644 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
33645 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
33646 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
33649 @kindex set annotate
33650 @item set annotate @var{level}
33651 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
33652 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
33654 @item show annotate
33655 @kindex show annotate
33656 Show the current annotation level.
33659 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
33661 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
33664 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
33666 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
33667 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
33668 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
33669 under certain conditions.
33670 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
33671 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
33673 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
33684 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
33685 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
33686 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
33687 output from @value{GDBN}.
33689 @node Server Prefix
33690 @section The Server Prefix
33691 @cindex server prefix
33693 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
33694 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
33695 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
33696 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
33697 a transparent manner.
33699 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
33700 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
33701 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
33702 @code{print} command.
33704 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
33705 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
33708 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
33710 @cindex annotations for prompts
33711 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
33712 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
33715 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
33716 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
33717 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
33718 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
33719 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
33720 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
33721 features the following annotations:
33729 The input types are
33732 @findex pre-prompt annotation
33733 @findex prompt annotation
33734 @findex post-prompt annotation
33736 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
33738 @findex pre-commands annotation
33739 @findex commands annotation
33740 @findex post-commands annotation
33742 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
33743 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
33745 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
33746 @findex overload-choice annotation
33747 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
33748 @item overload-choice
33749 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
33751 @findex pre-query annotation
33752 @findex query annotation
33753 @findex post-query annotation
33755 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
33757 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
33758 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
33759 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
33760 @item prompt-for-continue
33761 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
33762 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
33763 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
33764 presence of annotations.
33769 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
33771 @findex quit annotation
33776 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
33778 @findex error annotation
33783 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
33785 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
33786 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
33787 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
33788 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
33789 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
33790 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
33793 @findex error-begin annotation
33794 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
33800 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
33803 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
33804 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
33805 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
33808 @section Invalidation Notices
33810 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
33811 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
33815 @findex frames-invalid annotation
33816 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
33818 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
33821 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
33822 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
33824 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
33825 deleted a breakpoint.
33828 @node Annotations for Running
33829 @section Running the Program
33830 @cindex annotations for running programs
33832 @findex starting annotation
33833 @findex stopping annotation
33834 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
33835 @code{step} or @code{continue},
33841 is output. When the program stops,
33847 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
33848 annotations describe how the program stopped.
33851 @findex exited annotation
33852 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
33853 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
33854 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
33856 @findex signalled annotation
33857 @findex signal-name annotation
33858 @findex signal-name-end annotation
33859 @findex signal-string annotation
33860 @findex signal-string-end annotation
33861 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
33862 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
33863 annotation continues:
33869 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
33873 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
33878 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
33879 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
33880 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}. The arguments
33881 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
33882 user's benefit and have no particular format.
33884 @findex signal annotation
33886 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
33887 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
33888 terminated with it.
33890 @findex breakpoint annotation
33891 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
33892 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
33894 @findex watchpoint annotation
33895 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
33896 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
33899 @node Source Annotations
33900 @section Displaying Source
33901 @cindex annotations for source display
33903 @findex source annotation
33904 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
33907 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
33910 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
33911 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
33912 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
33913 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
33914 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
33915 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
33916 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
33917 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
33918 source which is being displayed. The @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
33919 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
33920 depend on the language).
33922 @node JIT Interface
33923 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
33924 @cindex just-in-time compilation
33925 @cindex JIT compilation interface
33927 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
33928 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
33929 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
33930 performance while maintaining platform independence.
33932 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
33933 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
33934 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
33935 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
33936 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
33937 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
33939 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
33940 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
33941 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
33942 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
33945 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
33946 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
33947 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
33948 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
33949 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
33950 out about additional code.
33953 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
33954 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
33955 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
33956 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
33960 @section JIT Declarations
33962 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
33963 implement the interface:
33973 struct jit_code_entry
33975 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
33976 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
33977 const char *symfile_addr;
33978 uint64_t symfile_size;
33981 struct jit_descriptor
33984 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
33985 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
33986 uint32_t action_flag;
33987 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
33988 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
33991 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
33992 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
33994 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
33995 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
33996 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
33999 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
34000 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
34001 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
34003 @node Registering Code
34004 @section Registering Code
34006 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
34010 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
34011 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
34014 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
34018 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
34021 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
34024 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
34025 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
34028 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
34029 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
34030 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
34031 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
34033 @node Unregistering Code
34034 @section Unregistering Code
34036 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
34040 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
34043 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
34046 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
34047 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
34050 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
34051 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
34053 @node Custom Debug Info
34054 @section Custom Debug Info
34055 @cindex custom JIT debug info
34056 @cindex JIT debug info reader
34058 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
34059 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
34060 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
34061 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
34062 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
34063 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
34064 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
34065 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
34066 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
34068 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
34069 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
34070 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
34071 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
34072 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
34073 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
34077 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
34078 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
34081 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
34082 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
34083 @kindex jit-reader-load
34084 @kindex jit-reader-unload
34086 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
34087 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
34090 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
34091 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}, which is a shared
34092 object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
34093 the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
34094 pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
34095 system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
34096 @file{/usr/local/lib}).
34098 Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
34099 reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
34100 reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
34101 the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
34102 @code{jit-reader-load}.
34104 @item jit-reader-unload
34105 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
34109 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
34110 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
34111 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
34113 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
34114 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
34116 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
34117 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
34118 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
34119 the system include directory.
34121 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
34122 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
34123 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
34125 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
34126 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
34128 @findex gdb_init_reader
34130 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
34133 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
34135 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
34136 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
34137 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
34138 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
34139 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
34140 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
34143 struct gdb_reader_funcs
34145 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
34146 int reader_version;
34148 /* For use by the reader. */
34151 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
34152 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
34153 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
34154 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
34158 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
34159 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
34161 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
34162 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
34163 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
34164 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
34165 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
34166 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
34167 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
34168 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
34169 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
34170 target's address space.
34172 @node In-Process Agent
34173 @chapter In-Process Agent
34174 @cindex debugging agent
34175 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
34176 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
34177 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
34178 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
34179 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
34180 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
34181 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
34182 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
34183 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
34184 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
34185 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
34186 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
34187 behavior without interrupting it.
34189 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
34190 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
34191 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
34192 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
34193 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
34194 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
34195 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
34196 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
34197 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
34199 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
34200 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
34201 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
34202 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
34204 @anchor{Control Agent}
34205 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
34206 debugging with the following commands:
34209 @kindex set agent on
34211 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
34212 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
34213 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
34214 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
34215 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
34216 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
34218 @kindex set agent off
34219 @item set agent off
34220 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
34221 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
34225 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
34226 the in-process agent.
34230 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
34233 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
34234 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
34235 @cindex in-process agent protocol
34237 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
34238 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
34239 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
34240 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
34241 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
34242 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
34243 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
34244 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
34245 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
34248 * IPA Protocol Objects::
34249 * IPA Protocol Commands::
34252 @node IPA Protocol Objects
34253 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
34254 @cindex ipa protocol objects
34256 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
34257 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
34259 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
34260 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
34261 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
34262 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
34266 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
34267 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
34269 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
34270 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
34274 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
34278 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
34279 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
34280 @anchor{agent expression object}
34282 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
34283 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
34284 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
34285 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
34287 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
34288 @anchor{tracepoint object}
34292 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
34295 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
34296 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
34297 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
34298 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
34299 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
34300 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
34301 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34302 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
34303 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
34304 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
34305 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
34306 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
34307 memory address for collecting.
34308 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
34309 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34310 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
34311 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34312 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
34313 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
34314 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
34315 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
34316 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
34317 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
34318 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
34319 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
34320 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
34321 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
34322 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
34323 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
34324 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
34325 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
34326 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
34327 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
34328 @ref{agent expression object}
34329 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
34330 @ref{agent expression object}
34331 @item actions @tab variable
34332 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
34335 @node IPA Protocol Commands
34336 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
34337 @cindex ipa protocol commands
34339 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
34340 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
34344 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
34345 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
34346 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). The @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
34347 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
34352 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
34353 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
34354 The @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
34355 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
34356 The @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
34357 The @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
34364 Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
34365 is about to kill inferiors.
34373 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
34374 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
34381 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
34382 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
34386 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
34387 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
34388 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
34390 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
34392 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
34393 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
34394 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
34395 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
34397 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
34398 information that enables us to fix the bug.
34401 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
34402 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
34406 @section Have You Found a Bug?
34407 @cindex bug criteria
34409 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
34412 @cindex fatal signal
34413 @cindex debugger crash
34414 @cindex crash of debugger
34416 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
34417 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
34419 @cindex error on valid input
34421 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
34422 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
34423 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
34425 @cindex invalid input
34427 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
34428 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
34429 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
34430 for traditional practice''.
34433 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
34434 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
34437 @node Bug Reporting
34438 @section How to Report Bugs
34439 @cindex bug reports
34440 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
34442 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
34443 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
34444 contact that organization first.
34446 You can find contact information for many support companies and
34447 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
34449 @c should add a web page ref...
34452 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
34453 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
34454 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
34455 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
34456 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
34459 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
34460 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
34461 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
34464 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
34465 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
34466 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
34467 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
34468 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
34469 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
34470 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
34471 bug reports to the mailing list.
34473 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
34474 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
34475 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
34479 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
34480 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
34481 fact or leave it out, state it!
34483 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
34484 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
34485 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
34486 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
34487 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
34488 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
34489 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
34490 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
34491 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
34493 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
34494 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
34495 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
34498 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
34499 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
34500 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
34503 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
34507 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
34508 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
34511 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
34512 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
34515 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
34519 The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
34520 @value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
34521 @option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
34522 @code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
34525 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
34526 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
34529 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
34530 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
34531 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
34532 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
34536 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
34537 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
34538 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
34539 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
34541 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
34542 and then we might not encounter the bug.
34545 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
34549 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
34550 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
34552 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
34553 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
34554 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
34555 a chance to make a mistake.
34557 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
34558 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
34559 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
34560 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
34561 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
34562 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
34563 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
34564 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
34567 @cindex recording a session script
34568 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
34569 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
34570 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
34571 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
34573 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
34574 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
34577 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
34578 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
34579 it by context, not by line number.
34581 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
34582 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
34586 Here are some things that are not necessary:
34590 A description of the envelope of the bug.
34592 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
34593 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
34594 changes will not affect it.
34596 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
34597 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
34598 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
34599 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
34601 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
34602 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
34603 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
34604 less time, and so on.
34606 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
34607 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
34610 A patch for the bug.
34612 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
34613 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
34614 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
34615 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
34617 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
34618 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
34619 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
34620 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
34622 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
34623 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
34624 help us to understand.
34627 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
34629 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
34630 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
34633 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
34634 @c and consists of the two following files:
34637 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
34638 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
34639 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
34640 @include rluser.texi
34641 @include hsuser.texi
34645 @appendix In Memoriam
34647 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
34652 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
34653 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
34654 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
34656 @item Michael Snyder
34657 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
34658 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
34659 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
34660 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
34663 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
34664 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
34666 @node Formatting Documentation
34667 @appendix Formatting Documentation
34669 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
34670 @cindex reference card
34671 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
34672 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
34673 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
34674 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
34675 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
34676 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
34678 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
34679 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
34685 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
34686 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
34687 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
34688 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
34689 your @sc{dvi} output program.
34691 @cindex documentation
34693 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
34694 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
34695 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
34696 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
34697 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
34698 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
34700 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
34701 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
34702 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
34703 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
34704 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
34705 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
34706 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
34707 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
34709 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
34710 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
34713 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
34714 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
34715 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
34722 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
34723 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
34724 Texinfo definitions file.
34726 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
34727 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
34728 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
34729 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
34730 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
34731 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
34732 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
34734 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
34735 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
34736 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
34737 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
34738 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
34741 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
34742 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
34743 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
34744 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
34750 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
34752 @node Installing GDB
34753 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
34754 @cindex installation
34757 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
34758 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
34759 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
34760 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
34761 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
34762 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
34766 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
34767 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
34769 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
34770 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
34772 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
34774 @item ISO C90 compiler
34775 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
34776 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
34780 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
34784 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
34785 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
34786 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
34787 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
34788 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
34789 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
34795 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
34797 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
34799 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
34800 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
34802 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
34804 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
34806 Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format},
34807 @pxref{Branch Trace Configuration Format})
34812 @value{GDBN} can use the GNU MPFR multiple-precision floating-point
34813 library. This library may be included with your operating system
34814 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
34815 @url{http://www.mpfr.org}. The @file{configure} script will search
34816 for this library in several standard locations; if it is installed
34817 in an unusual path, you can use the @option{--with-libmpfr-prefix}
34818 option to specify its location.
34820 GNU MPFR is used to emulate target floating-point arithmetic during
34821 expression evaluation when the target uses different floating-point
34822 formats than the host. If GNU MPFR it is not available, @value{GDBN}
34823 will fall back to using host floating-point arithmetic.
34826 @cindex compressed debug sections
34827 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
34828 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
34829 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
34830 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
34831 information in such binaries.
34833 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
34834 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
34835 @url{http://zlib.net}.
34838 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
34839 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
34840 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
34841 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
34843 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
34844 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
34845 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
34846 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
34848 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
34849 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
34850 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
34852 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
34853 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
34854 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
34855 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
34856 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
34857 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
34858 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
34859 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
34862 @node Running Configure
34863 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
34864 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
34865 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
34866 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
34867 build the @code{gdb} program.
34869 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
34870 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
34871 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
34872 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
34875 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
34876 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
34877 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
34879 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
34880 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
34883 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
34884 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
34886 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
34887 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
34889 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
34890 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
34892 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
34893 @sc{gnu} include files
34895 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
34896 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
34898 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
34899 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
34901 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
34902 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
34904 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
34905 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
34907 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
34908 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
34911 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
34912 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
34913 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
34915 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
34916 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
34917 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
34923 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
34924 ./configure @var{host}
34929 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
34930 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
34931 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
34932 correct value by examining your system.)
34934 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
34935 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
34936 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
34937 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
34940 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
34941 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
34942 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
34945 sh configure @var{host}
34948 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
34949 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
34950 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
34952 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
34953 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
34955 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
34956 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
34957 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
34958 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
34959 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
34960 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
34961 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
34962 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
34963 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
34965 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
34966 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
34967 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
34968 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
34969 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
34971 @node Separate Objdir
34972 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
34974 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
34975 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
34976 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
34977 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
34978 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
34979 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
34980 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
34981 program specified there.
34983 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
34984 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
34985 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
34986 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
34987 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
34988 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
34990 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
34991 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
34995 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
34998 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
35003 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
35004 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
35005 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
35006 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
35007 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
35008 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
35010 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
35011 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
35012 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
35013 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
35014 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
35016 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
35017 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
35018 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
35019 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
35020 You specify a cross-debugging target by
35021 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
35023 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
35024 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
35025 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
35027 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
35028 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
35029 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
35030 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
35031 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
35033 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
35034 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
35035 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
35039 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
35041 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
35042 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
35043 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
35044 of information in the following pattern:
35047 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
35050 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
35051 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
35052 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
35054 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
35055 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
35056 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
35057 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
35058 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
35059 abbreviations---for example:
35062 % sh config.sub i386-linux
35064 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
35065 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
35066 % sh config.sub hp9k700
35068 % sh config.sub sun4
35069 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
35070 % sh config.sub sun3
35071 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
35072 % sh config.sub i986v
35073 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
35077 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
35078 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
35080 @node Configure Options
35081 @section @file{configure} Options
35083 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
35084 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
35085 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
35086 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
35089 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
35090 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
35091 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
35092 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
35093 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
35094 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
35099 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
35100 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
35105 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
35107 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
35108 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
35111 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
35112 Configure the source to install programs under directory
35115 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
35117 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
35118 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
35119 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
35120 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
35121 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
35122 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
35123 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
35124 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
35125 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
35126 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
35129 @item --norecursion
35130 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
35131 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
35133 @item --target=@var{target}
35134 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
35135 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
35136 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
35138 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
35140 @item @var{host} @dots{}
35141 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
35143 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
35146 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
35147 needed for special purposes only.
35149 @node System-wide configuration
35150 @section System-wide configuration and settings
35151 @cindex system-wide init file
35153 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
35154 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
35155 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
35157 Here is the corresponding configure option:
35160 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
35161 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
35165 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
35166 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
35170 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
35171 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
35172 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
35173 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
35174 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
35175 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
35178 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
35179 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
35180 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
35181 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
35182 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
35185 If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
35186 @option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
35187 data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
35188 time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
35189 system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
35190 @option{--data-directory} command-line option.
35191 Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
35192 initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
35193 started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
35197 * System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
35200 @node System-wide Configuration Scripts
35201 @subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
35202 @cindex system-wide configuration scripts
35204 The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
35205 (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
35206 a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
35207 automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
35208 configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
35209 should be able to source them by hand as needed.
35211 The following scripts are currently available:
35214 @item @file{elinos.py}
35216 @cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
35217 This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
35218 It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
35219 ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
35220 shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
35221 and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
35223 @item @file{wrs-linux.py}
35224 @pindex wrs-linux.py
35225 @cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
35226 This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
35227 Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
35228 the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
35232 @node Maintenance Commands
35233 @appendix Maintenance Commands
35234 @cindex maintenance commands
35235 @cindex internal commands
35237 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
35238 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
35239 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
35240 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
35241 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
35244 @kindex maint agent
35245 @kindex maint agent-eval
35246 @item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
35247 @itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
35248 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
35249 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
35250 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
35251 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
35252 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
35253 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
35254 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
35255 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
35256 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
35257 addition and return the sum.
35258 If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
35259 If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
35261 @kindex maint agent-printf
35262 @item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
35263 Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
35264 into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
35265 This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
35266 printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
35268 @kindex maint info breakpoints
35269 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
35270 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
35271 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
35272 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
35273 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
35278 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
35281 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
35284 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
35285 @code{longjmp} calls.
35287 @item longjmp resume
35288 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
35291 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
35294 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
35297 Shared library events.
35301 @kindex maint info btrace
35302 @item maint info btrace
35303 Pint information about raw branch tracing data.
35305 @kindex maint btrace packet-history
35306 @item maint btrace packet-history
35307 Print the raw branch trace packets that are used to compute the
35308 execution history for the @samp{record btrace} command. Both the
35309 information and the format in which it is printed depend on the btrace
35314 For the BTS recording format, print a list of blocks of sequential
35315 code. For each block, the following information is printed:
35319 Newer blocks have higher numbers. The oldest block has number zero.
35320 @item Lowest @samp{PC}
35321 @item Highest @samp{PC}
35325 For the Intel Processor Trace recording format, print a list of
35326 Intel Processor Trace packets. For each packet, the following
35327 information is printed:
35330 @item Packet number
35331 Newer packets have higher numbers. The oldest packet has number zero.
35333 The packet's offset in the trace stream.
35334 @item Packet opcode and payload
35338 @kindex maint btrace clear-packet-history
35339 @item maint btrace clear-packet-history
35340 Discards the cached packet history printed by the @samp{maint btrace
35341 packet-history} command. The history will be computed again when
35344 @kindex maint btrace clear
35345 @item maint btrace clear
35346 Discard the branch trace data. The data will be fetched anew and the
35347 branch trace will be recomputed when needed.
35349 This implicitly truncates the branch trace to a single branch trace
35350 buffer. When updating branch trace incrementally, the branch trace
35351 available to @value{GDBN} may be bigger than a single branch trace
35354 @kindex maint set btrace pt skip-pad
35355 @item maint set btrace pt skip-pad
35356 @kindex maint show btrace pt skip-pad
35357 @item maint show btrace pt skip-pad
35358 Control whether @value{GDBN} will skip PAD packets when computing the
35361 @kindex set displaced-stepping
35362 @kindex show displaced-stepping
35363 @cindex displaced stepping support
35364 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
35365 @item set displaced-stepping
35366 @itemx show displaced-stepping
35367 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
35368 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
35369 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
35370 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
35371 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
35374 @item set displaced-stepping on
35375 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
35376 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
35378 @item set displaced-stepping off
35379 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
35380 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
35382 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
35383 @item set displaced-stepping auto
35384 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
35385 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
35386 architecture supports displaced stepping.
35389 @kindex maint check-psymtabs
35390 @item maint check-psymtabs
35391 Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
35392 Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
35394 @kindex maint check-symtabs
35395 @item maint check-symtabs
35396 Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
35398 @kindex maint expand-symtabs
35399 @item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
35400 Expand symbol tables.
35401 If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
35402 names matching @var{regexp}.
35404 @kindex maint set catch-demangler-crashes
35405 @kindex maint show catch-demangler-crashes
35406 @cindex demangler crashes
35407 @item maint set catch-demangler-crashes [on|off]
35408 @itemx maint show catch-demangler-crashes
35409 Control whether @value{GDBN} should attempt to catch crashes in the
35410 symbol name demangler. The default is to attempt to catch crashes.
35411 If enabled, the first time a crash is caught, a core file is created,
35412 the offending symbol is displayed and the user is presented with the
35413 option to terminate the current session.
35415 @kindex maint cplus first_component
35416 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
35417 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
35419 @kindex maint cplus namespace
35420 @item maint cplus namespace
35421 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
35423 @kindex maint deprecate
35424 @kindex maint undeprecate
35425 @cindex deprecated commands
35426 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
35427 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
35428 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
35429 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
35430 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
35431 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
35432 the replacement as part of the warning.
35434 @kindex maint dump-me
35435 @item maint dump-me
35436 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
35437 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
35438 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
35439 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
35441 @kindex maint internal-error
35442 @kindex maint internal-warning
35443 @kindex maint demangler-warning
35444 @cindex demangler crashes
35445 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
35446 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
35447 @itemx maint demangler-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
35449 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error},
35450 @code{internal_warning} or @code{demangler_warning} and hence behave
35451 as though an internal problem has been detected. In addition to
35452 reporting the internal problem, these functions give the user the
35453 opportunity to either quit @value{GDBN} or (for @code{internal_error}
35454 and @code{internal_warning}) create a core file of the current
35455 @value{GDBN} session.
35457 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
35458 used as the text of the error or warning message.
35460 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
35463 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
35464 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
35465 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
35466 debugging may prove unreliable.
35467 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
35468 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
35472 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
35473 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
35474 @cindex demangler crashes
35476 @kindex maint set internal-error
35477 @kindex maint show internal-error
35478 @kindex maint set internal-warning
35479 @kindex maint show internal-warning
35480 @kindex maint set demangler-warning
35481 @kindex maint show demangler-warning
35482 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
35483 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
35484 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
35485 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
35486 @itemx maint set demangler-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
35487 @itemx maint show demangler-warning @var{action}
35488 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
35489 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
35490 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
35491 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
35492 described in the table below.
35496 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
35497 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
35500 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
35501 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do. Note
35502 that there is no @code{corefile} option for @code{demangler-warning}:
35503 demangler warnings always create a core file and this cannot be
35507 @kindex maint packet
35508 @item maint packet @var{text}
35509 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
35510 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
35511 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
35512 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
35515 @kindex maint print architecture
35516 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35517 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
35518 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
35520 @kindex maint print c-tdesc @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35521 @item maint print c-tdesc
35522 Print the target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
35523 a C source file. By default, the target description is for the current
35524 target, but if the optional argument @var{file} is provided, that file
35525 is used to produce the description. The @var{file} should be an XML
35526 document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description Format}.
35527 The created source file is built into @value{GDBN} when @value{GDBN} is
35528 built again. This command is used by developers after they add or
35529 modify XML target descriptions.
35531 @kindex maint check xml-descriptions
35532 @item maint check xml-descriptions @var{dir}
35533 Check that the target descriptions dynamically created by @value{GDBN}
35534 equal the descriptions created from XML files found in @var{dir}.
35536 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
35537 @item maint print dummy-frames
35538 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
35541 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
35543 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
35544 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
35546 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
35548 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
35549 0xa8206d8: id=@{stack=0xbfffe734,code=0xbfffe73f,!special@}, ptid=process 9353
35553 Takes an optional file parameter.
35555 @kindex maint print registers
35556 @kindex maint print raw-registers
35557 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
35558 @kindex maint print register-groups
35559 @kindex maint print remote-registers
35560 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35561 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35562 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35563 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35564 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35565 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
35567 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
35568 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
35569 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
35570 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
35571 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
35572 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
35573 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
35574 and offsets in the `G' packets.
35576 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
35577 write the information.
35579 @kindex maint print reggroups
35580 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
35581 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
35582 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
35585 The register groups info looks like this:
35588 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
35601 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
35603 @kindex maint print objfiles
35604 @cindex info for known object files
35605 @item maint print objfiles @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
35606 Print a dump of all known object files.
35607 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print object files whose names
35608 match @var{regexp}. For each object file, this command prints its name,
35609 address in memory, and all of its psymtabs and symtabs.
35611 @kindex maint print user-registers
35612 @cindex user registers
35613 @item maint print user-registers
35614 List all currently available @dfn{user registers}. User registers
35615 typically provide alternate names for actual hardware registers. They
35616 include the four ``standard'' registers @code{$fp}, @code{$pc},
35617 @code{$sp}, and @code{$ps}. @xref{standard registers}. User
35618 registers can be used in expressions in the same way as the canonical
35619 register names, but only the latter are listed by the @code{info
35620 registers} and @code{maint print registers} commands.
35622 @kindex maint print section-scripts
35623 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
35624 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
35625 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
35626 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
35627 matching @var{regexp}.
35628 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
35629 and the full path if known.
35630 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
35632 @kindex maint print statistics
35633 @cindex bcache statistics
35634 @item maint print statistics
35635 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
35636 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
35637 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
35638 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
35639 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
35640 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
35641 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
35642 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
35643 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
35644 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
35647 @kindex maint print target-stack
35648 @cindex target stack description
35649 @item maint print target-stack
35650 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
35651 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
35652 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
35653 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
35654 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
35657 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
35658 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
35660 @kindex maint print type
35661 @cindex type chain of a data type
35662 @item maint print type @var{expr}
35663 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
35664 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
35665 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
35666 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
35667 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
35669 @kindex maint selftest
35671 @item maint selftest @r{[}@var{filter}@r{]}
35672 Run any self tests that were compiled in to @value{GDBN}. This will
35673 print a message showing how many tests were run, and how many failed.
35674 If a @var{filter} is passed, only the tests with @var{filter} in their
35677 @kindex "maint info selftests"
35679 @item maint info selftests
35680 List the selftests compiled in to @value{GDBN}.
35682 @kindex maint set dwarf always-disassemble
35683 @kindex maint show dwarf always-disassemble
35684 @item maint set dwarf always-disassemble
35685 @item maint show dwarf always-disassemble
35686 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
35689 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
35690 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
35691 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
35692 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
35693 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
35694 always see the disassembly form.
35696 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
35699 (gdb) info addr argc
35700 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
35704 For more information on these expressions, see
35705 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
35707 @kindex maint set dwarf max-cache-age
35708 @kindex maint show dwarf max-cache-age
35709 @item maint set dwarf max-cache-age
35710 @itemx maint show dwarf max-cache-age
35711 Control the DWARF compilation unit cache.
35713 @cindex DWARF compilation units cache
35714 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
35715 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF
35716 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
35717 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
35718 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
35719 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
35720 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
35721 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
35723 @kindex maint set profile
35724 @kindex maint show profile
35725 @cindex profiling GDB
35726 @item maint set profile
35727 @itemx maint show profile
35728 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
35730 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
35731 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
35732 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
35733 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
35734 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
35735 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
35736 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
35738 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
35739 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
35741 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
35742 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
35743 @cindex hardware debug registers
35744 @item maint set show-debug-regs
35745 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
35746 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
35747 registers. Use @code{on} to enable, @code{off} to disable. If
35748 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
35749 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
35750 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
35752 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
35753 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
35754 @item maint set show-all-tib
35755 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
35756 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
35757 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
35760 @kindex maint set target-async
35761 @kindex maint show target-async
35762 @item maint set target-async
35763 @itemx maint show target-async
35764 This controls whether @value{GDBN} targets operate in synchronous or
35765 asynchronous mode (@pxref{Background Execution}). Normally the
35766 default is asynchronous, if it is available; but this can be changed
35767 to more easily debug problems occurring only in synchronous mode.
35769 @kindex maint set target-non-stop @var{mode} [on|off|auto]
35770 @kindex maint show target-non-stop
35771 @item maint set target-non-stop
35772 @itemx maint show target-non-stop
35774 This controls whether @value{GDBN} targets always operate in non-stop
35775 mode even if @code{set non-stop} is @code{off} (@pxref{Non-Stop
35776 Mode}). The default is @code{auto}, meaning non-stop mode is enabled
35777 if supported by the target.
35780 @item maint set target-non-stop auto
35781 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} controls the target in
35782 non-stop mode if the target supports it.
35784 @item maint set target-non-stop on
35785 @value{GDBN} controls the target in non-stop mode even if the target
35786 does not indicate support.
35788 @item maint set target-non-stop off
35789 @value{GDBN} does not control the target in non-stop mode even if the
35790 target supports it.
35793 @kindex maint set per-command
35794 @kindex maint show per-command
35795 @item maint set per-command
35796 @itemx maint show per-command
35797 @cindex resources used by commands
35799 @value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
35800 This is useful in debugging performance problems.
35803 @item maint set per-command space [on|off]
35804 @itemx maint show per-command space
35805 Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
35806 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
35807 took, following the command's own output.
35808 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
35809 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
35811 @item maint set per-command time [on|off]
35812 @itemx maint show per-command time
35813 Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
35815 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
35816 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
35817 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
35818 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
35819 CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
35820 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
35821 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
35822 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
35823 spent by the program been debugged.
35824 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
35825 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
35827 @item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
35828 @itemx maint show per-command symtab
35829 Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
35831 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
35835 number of symbol tables
35837 number of primary symbol tables
35839 number of blocks in the blockvector
35843 @kindex maint space
35844 @cindex memory used by commands
35845 @item maint space @var{value}
35846 An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
35847 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
35850 @cindex time of command execution
35851 @item maint time @var{value}
35852 An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
35853 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
35855 @kindex maint translate-address
35856 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
35857 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
35858 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
35859 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
35860 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
35861 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
35862 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
35864 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
35865 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
35866 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
35870 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
35871 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
35874 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
35875 @kindex set watchdog
35876 @cindex watchdog timer
35877 @cindex timeout for commands
35878 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
35879 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
35880 reports and error and the command is aborted.
35882 @item show watchdog
35883 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
35886 @node Remote Protocol
35887 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
35892 * Stop Reply Packets::
35893 * General Query Packets::
35894 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
35895 * Tracepoint Packets::
35896 * Host I/O Packets::
35898 * Notification Packets::
35899 * Remote Non-Stop::
35900 * Packet Acknowledgment::
35902 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
35903 * Library List Format::
35904 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
35905 * Memory Map Format::
35906 * Thread List Format::
35907 * Traceframe Info Format::
35908 * Branch Trace Format::
35909 * Branch Trace Configuration Format::
35915 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
35916 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
35917 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
35918 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
35920 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
35921 transmitted and received data, respectively.
35923 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
35924 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
35925 @cindex remote serial protocol
35926 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
35927 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
35928 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
35929 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
35930 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
35933 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35937 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
35939 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
35940 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
35941 eight bit unsigned checksum).
35943 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
35944 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
35947 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35950 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
35952 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
35953 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
35954 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
35956 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
35957 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
35958 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
35962 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
35967 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
35968 once a connection is established.
35969 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
35971 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
35972 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
35973 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
35974 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
35975 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
35976 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
35977 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
35979 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
35980 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
35983 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
35984 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
35985 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
35986 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
35988 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
35989 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
35990 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
35992 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
35993 @anchor{Binary Data}
35994 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
35995 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
35996 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
35997 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
35998 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
36001 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
36002 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
36003 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
36004 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
36005 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
36006 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
36007 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
36008 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
36009 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
36012 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
36013 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
36014 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
36015 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
36016 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
36017 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
36018 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
36019 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
36020 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
36021 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
36022 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
36025 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
36026 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
36027 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
36028 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
36031 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
36032 error number. That number is not well defined.
36034 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
36035 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
36036 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
36037 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
36040 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
36041 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
36042 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
36043 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
36044 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
36045 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
36050 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
36051 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
36052 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
36053 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
36055 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
36056 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
36057 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
36058 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
36059 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
36060 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
36061 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
36062 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
36063 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
36066 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
36067 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
36068 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
36069 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
36070 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
36071 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
36074 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
36075 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
36076 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
36077 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
36078 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
36079 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
36080 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
36081 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
36082 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
36083 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
36084 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
36085 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
36086 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
36088 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
36089 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
36090 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
36093 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
36094 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
36096 Here are the packet descriptions.
36101 @cindex @samp{!} packet
36102 @anchor{extended mode}
36103 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
36104 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
36110 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
36114 @cindex @samp{?} packet
36116 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
36117 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
36118 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
36121 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36123 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
36124 @cindex @samp{A} packet
36125 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
36126 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
36127 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
36132 The arguments were set.
36138 @cindex @samp{b} packet
36139 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
36140 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
36142 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
36143 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
36144 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
36146 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
36147 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
36148 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
36149 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
36150 of view, nothing actually happened.}
36152 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
36153 @cindex @samp{B} packet
36154 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
36155 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
36157 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
36158 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
36160 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
36163 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
36164 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
36167 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36169 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
36172 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
36173 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
36176 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36178 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
36179 @cindex @samp{c} packet
36180 Continue at @var{addr}, which is the address to resume. If @var{addr}
36181 is omitted, resume at current address.
36183 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36187 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36189 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
36190 @cindex @samp{C} packet
36191 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
36192 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
36194 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36198 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36201 @cindex @samp{d} packet
36204 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
36205 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
36209 @cindex @samp{D} packet
36210 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
36211 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
36212 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
36214 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
36215 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
36216 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
36217 big-endian hex string.
36227 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
36228 @cindex @samp{F} packet
36229 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
36230 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
36231 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
36234 @anchor{read registers packet}
36235 @cindex @samp{g} packet
36236 Read general registers.
36240 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
36241 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
36242 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
36243 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
36244 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
36245 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}.
36247 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
36248 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
36249 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
36250 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
36251 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
36252 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
36253 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
36254 have been collected, and both have zero value:
36258 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
36265 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
36266 @cindex @samp{G} packet
36267 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
36268 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
36278 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
36279 @cindex @samp{H} packet
36280 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
36281 @samp{G}, et.al.). Depending on the operation to be performed, @var{op}
36282 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
36283 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
36284 option), and @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
36285 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
36286 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36297 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
36298 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
36299 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
36300 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
36301 @c described. For example:
36303 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
36304 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
36305 @c otherwise returns current registers.
36307 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
36308 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
36309 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
36311 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
36312 @anchor{cycle step packet}
36313 @cindex @samp{i} packet
36314 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
36315 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
36316 step starting at that address.
36319 @cindex @samp{I} packet
36320 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
36324 @cindex @samp{k} packet
36327 The exact effect of this packet is not specified.
36329 For a bare-metal target, it may power cycle or reset the target
36330 system. For that reason, the @samp{k} packet has no reply.
36332 For a single-process target, it may kill that process if possible.
36334 A multiple-process target may choose to kill just one process, or all
36335 that are under @value{GDBN}'s control. For more precise control, use
36336 the vKill packet (@pxref{vKill packet}).
36338 If the target system immediately closes the connection in response to
36339 @samp{k}, @value{GDBN} does not consider the lack of packet
36340 acknowledgment to be an error, and assumes the kill was successful.
36342 If connected using @kbd{target extended-remote}, and the target does
36343 not close the connection in response to a kill request, @value{GDBN}
36344 probes the target state as if a new connection was opened
36345 (@pxref{? packet}).
36347 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
36348 @cindex @samp{m} packet
36349 Read @var{length} addressable memory units starting at address @var{addr}
36350 (@pxref{addressable memory unit}). Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to
36351 any particular boundary.
36353 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
36354 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
36355 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
36356 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
36357 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
36358 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
36359 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
36360 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
36364 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
36365 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal number.
36366 The reply may contain fewer addressable memory units than requested if the
36367 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
36372 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
36373 @cindex @samp{M} packet
36374 Write @var{length} addressable memory units starting at address @var{addr}
36375 (@pxref{addressable memory unit}). The data is given by @var{XX@dots{}}; each
36376 byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal number.
36383 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
36388 @cindex @samp{p} packet
36389 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
36390 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
36391 register value is encoded.
36395 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
36396 the register's value
36400 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
36403 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
36404 @anchor{write register packet}
36405 @cindex @samp{P} packet
36406 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
36407 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
36408 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
36418 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
36419 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
36420 @cindex @samp{q} packet
36421 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
36422 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
36423 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
36426 @cindex @samp{r} packet
36427 Reset the entire system.
36429 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
36432 @cindex @samp{R} packet
36433 Restart the program being debugged. The @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
36434 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36436 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
36438 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
36439 @cindex @samp{s} packet
36440 Single step, resuming at @var{addr}. If
36441 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
36443 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36447 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36449 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
36450 @anchor{step with signal packet}
36451 @cindex @samp{S} packet
36452 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
36453 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
36455 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
36459 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36461 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
36462 @cindex @samp{t} packet
36463 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
36464 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}, both of which are are 4 byte long.
36465 There must be at least 3 digits in @var{addr}.
36467 @item T @var{thread-id}
36468 @cindex @samp{T} packet
36469 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
36474 thread is still alive
36480 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
36481 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
36483 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
36484 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
36485 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
36486 The process ID is a
36487 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
36488 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
36489 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
36491 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
36492 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
36493 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
36494 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
36495 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
36496 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
36497 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
36498 @c stopping or restarting threads.
36500 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36506 @item @r{Any stop packet}
36507 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
36509 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
36512 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
36513 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
36514 @anchor{vCont packet}
36515 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
36517 For each inferior thread, the leftmost action with a matching
36518 @var{thread-id} is applied. Threads that don't match any action
36519 remain in their current state. Thread IDs are specified using the
36520 syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}. If multiprocess
36521 extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}) are supported, actions
36522 can be specified to match all threads in a process by using the
36523 @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the @var{thread-id}. An action with no
36524 @var{thread-id} matches all threads. Specifying no actions is an
36527 Currently supported actions are:
36533 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
36537 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
36540 @item r @var{start},@var{end}
36541 Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
36542 addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
36543 The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
36544 of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
36545 a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
36547 If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
36548 becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
36549 single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
36550 jumps to @var{start}).
36552 (A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
36553 the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
36554 in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
36558 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
36559 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
36560 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
36562 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
36563 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
36564 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
36565 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
36566 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
36567 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
36568 as an implementation detail.
36570 The server must ignore @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, @samp{S}, and
36571 @samp{r} actions for threads that are already running. Conversely,
36572 the server must ignore @samp{t} actions for threads that are already
36575 @emph{Note:} In non-stop mode, a thread is considered running until
36576 @value{GDBN} acknowleges an asynchronous stop notification for it with
36577 the @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}).
36579 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
36580 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}).
36583 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
36586 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
36587 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
36591 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
36592 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
36593 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
36595 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
36598 @anchor{vCtrlC packet}
36600 @cindex @samp{vCtrlC} packet
36601 Interrupt remote target as if a control-C was pressed on the remote
36602 terminal. This is the equivalent to reacting to the @code{^C}
36603 (@samp{\003}, the control-C character) character in all-stop mode
36604 while the target is running, except this works in non-stop mode.
36605 @xref{interrupting remote targets}, for more info on the all-stop
36616 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
36617 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
36618 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
36619 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
36621 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
36622 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
36623 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
36624 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
36625 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
36626 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
36627 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
36628 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
36629 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
36630 packet is received.
36640 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
36641 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
36642 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
36643 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
36644 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
36645 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
36646 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
36647 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
36648 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
36649 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
36650 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
36651 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
36659 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
36665 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
36666 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
36667 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
36668 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
36669 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
36670 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
36671 request is completed.
36673 @item vKill;@var{pid}
36674 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
36675 @anchor{vKill packet}
36676 Kill the process with the specified process ID @var{pid}, which is a
36677 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
36678 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
36679 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
36689 @item vMustReplyEmpty
36690 @cindex @samp{vMustReplyEmpty} packet
36691 The correct reply to an unknown @samp{v} packet is to return the empty
36692 string, however, some older versions of @command{gdbserver} would
36693 incorrectly return @samp{OK} for unknown @samp{v} packets.
36695 The @samp{vMustReplyEmpty} is used as a feature test to check how
36696 @command{gdbserver} handles unknown packets, it is important that this
36697 packet be handled in the same way as other unknown @samp{v} packets.
36698 If this packet is handled differently to other unknown @samp{v}
36699 packets then it is possile that @value{GDBN} may run into problems in
36700 other areas, specifically around use of @samp{vFile:setfs:}.
36702 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
36703 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
36704 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
36705 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
36706 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
36707 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
36710 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
36712 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36718 @item @r{Any stop packet}
36719 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
36723 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
36724 @xref{Notification Packets}.
36726 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
36728 @cindex @samp{X} packet
36729 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
36730 Memory is specified by its address @var{addr} and number of addressable memory
36731 units @var{length} (@pxref{addressable memory unit});
36732 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
36742 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
36743 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
36744 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
36745 @cindex @samp{z} packet
36746 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
36747 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
36748 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
36750 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
36753 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
36754 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
36755 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
36756 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
36757 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
36758 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
36760 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36761 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
36762 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
36763 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
36764 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a software breakpoint at address
36765 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
36767 A software breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
36768 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
36769 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of the
36770 breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm} and
36771 @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
36772 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind}
36773 (@pxref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}); if no
36774 architecture-specific value is being used, it should be @samp{0}.
36775 @var{kind} is hex-encoded. @var{cond_list} is an optional list of
36776 conditional expressions in bytecode form that should be evaluated on
36777 the target's side. These are the conditions that should be taken into
36778 consideration when deciding if the breakpoint trigger should be
36779 reported back to @value{GDBN}.
36781 See also the @samp{swbreak} stop reason (@pxref{swbreak stop reason})
36782 for how to best report a software breakpoint event to @value{GDBN}.
36784 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
36785 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
36789 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
36790 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
36791 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
36795 The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
36796 run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
36797 The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
36798 nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
36799 continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
36800 Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
36801 separators. Each expression has the following form:
36805 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
36806 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
36807 actual commands expression in bytecode form.
36811 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
36812 code that contains software breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
36813 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
36814 target, is not defined.}
36826 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36827 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
36828 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
36829 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
36830 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
36831 address @var{addr}.
36833 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
36834 dependent on being able to modify the target's memory. The
36835 @var{kind}, @var{cond_list}, and @var{cmd_list} arguments have the
36836 same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
36838 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
36851 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36852 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36853 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
36854 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
36855 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
36856 The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
36868 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36869 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36870 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
36871 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
36872 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
36873 The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
36885 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36886 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
36887 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
36888 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
36889 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
36890 The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
36904 @node Stop Reply Packets
36905 @section Stop Reply Packets
36906 @cindex stop reply packets
36908 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
36909 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
36910 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
36911 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
36912 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
36913 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
36914 @value{GDBN} source code.
36916 In non-stop mode, the server will simply reply @samp{OK} to commands
36917 such as @samp{vCont}; any stop will be the subject of a future
36918 notification. @xref{Remote Non-Stop}.
36920 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
36921 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
36922 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
36928 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
36929 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
36930 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
36932 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
36933 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
36934 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
36935 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
36936 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
36937 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
36938 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
36939 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
36943 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
36944 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. The data @var{r} is a
36945 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
36946 two-digit hex number.
36949 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
36950 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36953 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
36954 the core on which the stop event was detected.
36957 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
36958 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
36959 reasons are listed below. The @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
36960 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
36963 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
36964 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
36968 The currently defined stop reasons are:
36974 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
36977 @item syscall_entry
36978 @itemx syscall_return
36979 The packet indicates a syscall entry or return, and @var{r} is the
36980 syscall number, in hex.
36982 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
36984 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
36985 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
36986 list of loaded libraries. The @var{r} part is ignored.
36988 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
36990 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
36991 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
36992 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
36993 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
36994 for more information.
36997 @anchor{swbreak stop reason}
36998 The packet indicates a software breakpoint instruction was executed,
36999 irrespective of whether it was @value{GDBN} that planted the
37000 breakpoint or the breakpoint is hardcoded in the program. The @var{r}
37001 part must be left empty.
37003 On some architectures, such as x86, at the architecture level, when a
37004 breakpoint instruction executes the program counter points at the
37005 breakpoint address plus an offset. On such targets, the stub is
37006 responsible for adjusting the PC to point back at the breakpoint
37009 This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
37010 did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
37011 appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
37012 remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
37013 indicating support.
37015 This packet is required for correct non-stop mode operation.
37018 The packet indicates the target stopped for a hardware breakpoint.
37019 The @var{r} part must be left empty.
37021 The same remarks about @samp{qSupported} and non-stop mode above
37024 @cindex fork events, remote reply
37026 The packet indicates that @code{fork} was called, and @var{r}
37027 is the thread ID of the new child process. Refer to
37028 @ref{thread-id syntax} for the format of the @var{thread-id}
37029 field. This packet is only applicable to targets that support
37032 This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
37033 did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
37034 appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
37035 remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
37036 indicating support.
37038 @cindex vfork events, remote reply
37040 The packet indicates that @code{vfork} was called, and @var{r}
37041 is the thread ID of the new child process. Refer to
37042 @ref{thread-id syntax} for the format of the @var{thread-id}
37043 field. This packet is only applicable to targets that support
37046 This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
37047 did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
37048 appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
37049 remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
37050 indicating support.
37052 @cindex vforkdone events, remote reply
37054 The packet indicates that a child process created by a vfork
37055 has either called @code{exec} or terminated, so that the
37056 address spaces of the parent and child process are no longer
37057 shared. The @var{r} part is ignored. This packet is only
37058 applicable to targets that support vforkdone events.
37060 This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
37061 did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
37062 appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
37063 remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
37064 indicating support.
37066 @cindex exec events, remote reply
37068 The packet indicates that @code{execve} was called, and @var{r}
37069 is the absolute pathname of the file that was executed, in hex.
37070 This packet is only applicable to targets that support exec events.
37072 This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
37073 did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
37074 appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
37075 remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
37076 indicating support.
37078 @cindex thread create event, remote reply
37079 @anchor{thread create event}
37081 The packet indicates that the thread was just created. The new thread
37082 is stopped until @value{GDBN} sets it running with a resumption packet
37083 (@pxref{vCont packet}). This packet should not be sent by default;
37084 @value{GDBN} requests it with the @ref{QThreadEvents} packet. See
37085 also the @samp{w} (@pxref{thread exit event}) remote reply below. The
37086 @var{r} part is ignored.
37091 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
37092 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
37093 applicable to certain targets.
37095 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
37096 exited process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
37097 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
37098 extensions}. Both @var{AA} and @var{pid} are formatted as big-endian
37102 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
37103 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
37105 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
37106 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
37107 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
37108 extensions}. Both @var{AA} and @var{pid} are formatted as big-endian
37111 @anchor{thread exit event}
37112 @cindex thread exit event, remote reply
37113 @item w @var{AA} ; @var{tid}
37115 The thread exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This response
37116 should not be sent by default; @value{GDBN} requests it with the
37117 @ref{QThreadEvents} packet. See also @ref{thread create event} above.
37118 @var{AA} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
37121 There are no resumed threads left in the target. In other words, even
37122 though the process is alive, the last resumed thread has exited. For
37123 example, say the target process has two threads: thread 1 and thread
37124 2. The client leaves thread 1 stopped, and resumes thread 2, which
37125 subsequently exits. At this point, even though the process is still
37126 alive, and thus no @samp{W} stop reply is sent, no thread is actually
37127 executing either. The @samp{N} stop reply thus informs the client
37128 that it can stop waiting for stop replies. This packet should not be
37129 sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions did not support it.
37130 @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an appropriate
37131 @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The remote stub must
37132 also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature indicating
37135 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
37136 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
37137 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
37138 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
37139 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
37141 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
37142 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
37143 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
37144 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
37145 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
37148 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
37149 this very system call.
37151 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
37152 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
37153 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
37154 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
37155 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
37156 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
37160 @node General Query Packets
37161 @section General Query Packets
37162 @cindex remote query requests
37164 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
37165 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
37166 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
37167 sending information to and from the stub.
37169 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
37170 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
37171 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
37172 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
37177 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
37179 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
37182 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
37183 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
37184 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
37185 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
37188 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
37189 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
37190 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
37191 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
37192 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
37193 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
37194 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
37195 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
37196 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
37197 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
37200 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
37201 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
37202 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
37203 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
37204 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
37206 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
37212 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
37213 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
37215 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
37216 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
37217 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
37218 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
37219 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
37220 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
37221 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
37222 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
37223 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
37224 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
37225 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
37228 @cindex current thread, remote request
37229 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
37230 Return the current thread ID.
37234 @item QC @var{thread-id}
37235 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
37236 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
37237 @item @r{(anything else)}
37238 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
37241 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
37242 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
37243 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
37244 @anchor{qCRC packet}
37245 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
37246 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
37247 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
37248 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
37250 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
37251 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
37252 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
37253 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
37254 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
37255 detect trailing zeros.
37260 An error (such as memory fault)
37261 @item C @var{crc32}
37262 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
37265 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
37266 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
37267 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
37268 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
37269 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
37270 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
37271 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
37272 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
37273 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
37274 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
37277 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37282 The request succeeded.
37285 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
37288 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
37292 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37293 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37294 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
37295 address space randomization.
37297 @item QStartupWithShell:@var{value}
37298 @cindex startup with shell, remote request
37299 @cindex @samp{QStartupWithShell} packet
37300 On UNIX-like targets, it is possible to start the inferior using a
37301 shell program. This is the default behavior on both @value{GDBN} and
37302 @command{gdbserver} (@pxref{set startup-with-shell}). This packet is
37303 used to inform @command{gdbserver} whether it should start the
37304 inferior using a shell or not.
37306 If @var{value} is @samp{0}, @command{gdbserver} will not use a shell
37307 to start the inferior. If @var{value} is @samp{1},
37308 @command{gdbserver} will use a shell to start the inferior. All other
37309 values are considered an error.
37311 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended
37317 The request succeeded.
37320 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
37323 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37324 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37325 (@pxref{qSupported}). This should only be done on targets that
37326 actually support starting the inferior using a shell.
37328 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set startup-with-shell}
37329 command; @pxref{set startup-with-shell}.
37331 @item QEnvironmentHexEncoded:@var{hex-value}
37332 @anchor{QEnvironmentHexEncoded}
37333 @cindex set environment variable, remote request
37334 @cindex @samp{QEnvironmentHexEncoded} packet
37335 On UNIX-like targets, it is possible to set environment variables that
37336 will be passed to the inferior during the startup process. This
37337 packet is used to inform @command{gdbserver} of an environment
37338 variable that has been defined by the user on @value{GDBN} (@pxref{set
37341 The packet is composed by @var{hex-value}, an hex encoded
37342 representation of the @var{name=value} format representing an
37343 environment variable. The name of the environment variable is
37344 represented by @var{name}, and the value to be assigned to the
37345 environment variable is represented by @var{value}. If the variable
37346 has no value (i.e., the value is @code{null}), then @var{value} will
37349 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended
37355 The request succeeded.
37358 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37359 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37360 (@pxref{qSupported}). This should only be done on targets that
37361 actually support passing environment variables to the starting
37364 This packet is related to the @code{set environment} command;
37365 @pxref{set environment}.
37367 @item QEnvironmentUnset:@var{hex-value}
37368 @anchor{QEnvironmentUnset}
37369 @cindex unset environment variable, remote request
37370 @cindex @samp{QEnvironmentUnset} packet
37371 On UNIX-like targets, it is possible to unset environment variables
37372 before starting the inferior in the remote target. This packet is
37373 used to inform @command{gdbserver} of an environment variable that has
37374 been unset by the user on @value{GDBN} (@pxref{unset environment}).
37376 The packet is composed by @var{hex-value}, an hex encoded
37377 representation of the name of the environment variable to be unset.
37379 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended
37385 The request succeeded.
37388 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37389 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37390 (@pxref{qSupported}). This should only be done on targets that
37391 actually support passing environment variables to the starting
37394 This packet is related to the @code{unset environment} command;
37395 @pxref{unset environment}.
37397 @item QEnvironmentReset
37398 @anchor{QEnvironmentReset}
37399 @cindex reset environment, remote request
37400 @cindex @samp{QEnvironmentReset} packet
37401 On UNIX-like targets, this packet is used to reset the state of
37402 environment variables in the remote target before starting the
37403 inferior. In this context, reset means unsetting all environment
37404 variables that were previously set by the user (i.e., were not
37405 initially present in the environment). It is sent to
37406 @command{gdbserver} before the @samp{QEnvironmentHexEncoded}
37407 (@pxref{QEnvironmentHexEncoded}) and the @samp{QEnvironmentUnset}
37408 (@pxref{QEnvironmentUnset}) packets.
37410 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended
37416 The request succeeded.
37419 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37420 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37421 (@pxref{qSupported}). This should only be done on targets that
37422 actually support passing environment variables to the starting
37425 @item QSetWorkingDir:@r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
37426 @anchor{QSetWorkingDir packet}
37427 @cindex set working directory, remote request
37428 @cindex @samp{QSetWorkingDir} packet
37429 This packet is used to inform the remote server of the intended
37430 current working directory for programs that are going to be executed.
37432 The packet is composed by @var{directory}, an hex encoded
37433 representation of the directory that the remote inferior will use as
37434 its current working directory. If @var{directory} is an empty string,
37435 the remote server should reset the inferior's current working
37436 directory to its original, empty value.
37438 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended
37444 The request succeeded.
37448 @itemx qsThreadInfo
37449 @cindex list active threads, remote request
37450 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
37451 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
37452 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
37453 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
37454 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
37455 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
37456 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
37457 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
37459 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
37463 @item m @var{thread-id}
37465 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
37466 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
37468 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
37471 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
37472 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
37473 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
37474 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
37475 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
37476 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
37479 @emph{Note: @value{GDBN} will send the @code{qfThreadInfo} query during the
37480 initial connection with the remote target, and the very first thread ID
37481 mentioned in the reply will be stopped by @value{GDBN} in a subsequent
37482 message. Therefore, the stub should ensure that the first thread ID in
37483 the @code{qfThreadInfo} reply is suitable for being stopped by @value{GDBN}.}
37485 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
37486 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
37487 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
37488 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
37489 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
37491 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
37492 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
37494 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
37495 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
37496 information associated with the variable.)
37498 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
37499 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
37500 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
37501 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
37502 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
37503 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
37507 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
37508 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
37509 local storage requested.
37512 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
37515 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
37518 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
37519 @cindex get thread information block address
37520 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
37521 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
37523 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
37527 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
37528 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
37529 thread information block.
37532 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
37533 address could not be retrieved.
37536 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
37539 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
37540 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
37541 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
37542 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
37543 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
37544 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
37545 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
37547 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
37551 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
37552 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
37553 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
37554 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
37555 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
37556 is a sequence of thread IDs, @var{threadid} (eight hex
37557 digits), from the target. See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
37561 @cindex section offsets, remote request
37562 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
37563 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
37568 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
37569 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
37570 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
37571 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
37572 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
37573 segments by the supplied offsets.
37575 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
37576 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
37577 to the @code{Bss} section.}
37579 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
37580 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
37581 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
37582 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
37583 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
37584 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
37585 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
37586 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
37587 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
37590 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
37591 @cindex thread information, remote request
37592 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
37593 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
37594 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
37595 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
37597 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
37600 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
37604 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
37605 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
37607 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
37608 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
37613 The request succeeded.
37616 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
37619 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
37623 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37624 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37625 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
37626 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
37628 @item QCatchSyscalls:1 @r{[};@var{sysno}@r{]}@dots{}
37629 @itemx QCatchSyscalls:0
37630 @cindex catch syscalls from inferior, remote request
37631 @cindex @samp{QCatchSyscalls} packet
37632 @anchor{QCatchSyscalls}
37633 Enable (@samp{QCatchSyscalls:1}) or disable (@samp{QCatchSyscalls:0})
37634 catching syscalls from the inferior process.
37636 For @samp{QCatchSyscalls:1}, each listed syscall @var{sysno} (encoded
37637 in hex) should be reported to @value{GDBN}. If no syscall @var{sysno}
37638 is listed, every system call should be reported.
37640 Note that if a syscall not in the list is reported, @value{GDBN} will
37641 still filter the event according to its own list from all corresponding
37642 @code{catch syscall} commands. However, it is more efficient to only
37643 report the requested syscalls.
37645 Multiple @samp{QCatchSyscalls:1} packets do not combine; any earlier
37646 @samp{QCatchSyscalls:1} list is completely replaced by the new list.
37648 If the inferior process execs, the state of @samp{QCatchSyscalls} is
37649 kept for the new process too. On targets where exec may affect syscall
37650 numbers, for example with exec between 32 and 64-bit processes, the
37651 client should send a new packet with the new syscall list.
37656 The request succeeded.
37659 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37662 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QCatchSyscalls} is not supported by
37666 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote catch-syscalls}
37667 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote catch-syscalls}).
37668 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37669 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37671 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
37672 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
37673 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
37674 @anchor{QPassSignals}
37675 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
37676 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
37677 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
37678 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
37679 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
37680 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
37681 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
37682 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
37683 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
37688 The request succeeded.
37691 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
37694 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
37698 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
37699 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
37700 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37701 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37703 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
37704 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
37705 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
37706 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
37707 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
37708 Others should be silently discarded.
37710 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
37711 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
37712 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
37713 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
37714 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
37715 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
37718 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
37719 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
37721 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
37722 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
37723 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
37724 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
37725 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
37730 The request succeeded.
37733 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
37736 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
37740 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
37741 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
37742 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37743 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37745 @anchor{QThreadEvents}
37746 @item QThreadEvents:1
37747 @itemx QThreadEvents:0
37748 @cindex thread create/exit events, remote request
37749 @cindex @samp{QThreadEvents} packet
37751 Enable (@samp{QThreadEvents:1}) or disable (@samp{QThreadEvents:0})
37752 reporting of thread create and exit events. @xref{thread create
37753 event}, for the reply specifications. For example, this is used in
37754 non-stop mode when @value{GDBN} stops a set of threads and
37755 synchronously waits for the their corresponding stop replies. Without
37756 exit events, if one of the threads exits, @value{GDBN} would hang
37757 forever not knowing that it should no longer expect a stop for that
37758 same thread. @value{GDBN} does not enable this feature unless the
37759 stub reports that it supports it by including @samp{QThreadEvents+} in
37760 its @samp{qSupported} reply.
37765 The request succeeded.
37768 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
37771 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QThreadEvents} is not supported by
37775 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote thread-events}
37776 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote thread-events}).
37778 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
37779 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
37780 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
37781 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
37782 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
37783 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
37784 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
37785 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
37786 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
37791 A command response with no output.
37793 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
37795 Indicate a badly formed request.
37797 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
37800 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
37801 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
37802 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
37805 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
37806 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
37808 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
37810 @cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
37811 @anchor{qSearch memory}
37812 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
37813 Both @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex;
37814 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, also hex encoded.
37819 The pattern was not found.
37821 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
37823 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
37825 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
37828 @item QStartNoAckMode
37829 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
37830 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
37831 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
37832 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
37837 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
37838 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
37839 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
37840 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
37842 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
37845 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
37846 @cindex supported packets, remote query
37847 @cindex features of the remote protocol
37848 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
37849 @anchor{qSupported}
37850 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
37851 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
37852 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
37853 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
37854 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
37855 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
37856 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
37857 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
37858 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
37859 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
37860 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
37861 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
37862 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
37863 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
37867 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
37868 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
37869 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
37872 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
37873 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
37876 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
37877 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
37881 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
37882 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
37883 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
37884 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
37886 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
37887 need an associated value.
37889 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
37891 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
37892 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
37893 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
37894 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
37897 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
37898 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
37899 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
37900 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
37901 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
37903 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
37908 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
37909 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
37910 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
37911 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
37912 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
37915 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
37916 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
37917 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
37921 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
37922 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
37923 instruction reply packet}).
37926 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the swbreak stop
37927 reason in stop replies. @xref{swbreak stop reason}, for details.
37930 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the hwbreak stop
37931 reason in stop replies. @xref{swbreak stop reason}, for details.
37934 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports fork event
37935 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
37936 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
37937 including @samp{fork-events+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
37940 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports vfork event
37941 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
37942 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
37943 including @samp{vfork-events+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
37946 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports exec event
37947 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
37948 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
37949 including @samp{exec-events+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
37951 @item vContSupported
37952 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} wants to know the
37953 supported actions in the reply to @samp{vCont?} packet.
37956 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
37957 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
37958 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
37959 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
37960 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
37961 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
37962 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
37963 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
37964 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
37965 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
37966 all the features it supports.
37968 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
37969 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
37971 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
37972 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
37973 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
37976 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
37977 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
37978 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
37979 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
37981 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
37982 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
37983 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
37984 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
37985 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
37987 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
37989 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
37990 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
37991 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
37993 @tab Value Required
37997 @item @samp{PacketSize}
38002 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
38007 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
38012 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace-conf:read}
38017 @item @samp{qXfer:exec-file:read}
38022 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
38027 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
38032 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
38037 @item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
38042 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
38047 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
38052 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
38057 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
38062 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
38067 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
38072 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
38077 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
38082 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
38087 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
38092 @item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
38097 @item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
38102 @item @samp{Qbtrace:pt}
38107 @item @samp{Qbtrace-conf:bts:size}
38112 @item @samp{Qbtrace-conf:pt:size}
38117 @item @samp{QNonStop}
38122 @item @samp{QCatchSyscalls}
38127 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
38132 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
38137 @item @samp{multiprocess}
38142 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
38147 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
38152 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
38157 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
38162 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
38167 @item @samp{QAgent}
38172 @item @samp{QAllow}
38177 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
38182 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
38187 @item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
38192 @item @samp{tracenz}
38197 @item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
38202 @item @samp{swbreak}
38207 @item @samp{hwbreak}
38212 @item @samp{fork-events}
38217 @item @samp{vfork-events}
38222 @item @samp{exec-events}
38227 @item @samp{QThreadEvents}
38232 @item @samp{no-resumed}
38239 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
38242 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
38243 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
38244 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
38245 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
38246 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
38247 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
38248 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
38249 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
38250 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
38251 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
38253 @item qXfer:auxv:read
38254 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
38255 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
38257 @item qXfer:btrace:read
38258 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
38259 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
38261 @item qXfer:btrace-conf:read
38262 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace-conf:read}
38263 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace-conf read}).
38265 @item qXfer:exec-file:read
38266 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:exec-file:read} packet
38267 (@pxref{qXfer executable filename read}).
38269 @item qXfer:features:read
38270 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
38271 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
38273 @item qXfer:libraries:read
38274 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
38275 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
38277 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
38278 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
38279 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
38281 @item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
38282 The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
38283 @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
38284 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
38286 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
38287 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
38288 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
38290 @item qXfer:sdata:read
38291 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
38292 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
38294 @item qXfer:spu:read
38295 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
38296 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
38298 @item qXfer:spu:write
38299 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
38300 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
38302 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
38303 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
38304 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
38306 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
38307 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
38308 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
38310 @item qXfer:threads:read
38311 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
38312 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
38314 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
38315 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
38316 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
38318 @item qXfer:uib:read
38319 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
38320 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
38322 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
38323 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
38324 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
38327 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
38328 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
38330 @item QCatchSyscalls
38331 The remote stub understands the @samp{QCatchSyscalls} packet
38332 (@pxref{QCatchSyscalls}).
38335 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
38336 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
38338 @item QStartNoAckMode
38339 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
38340 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
38343 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
38344 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
38345 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
38346 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
38347 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
38348 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
38349 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
38350 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
38351 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
38352 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
38353 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
38355 @item qXfer:osdata:read
38356 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
38357 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
38359 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
38360 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
38361 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
38362 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
38364 @item ConditionalTracepoints
38365 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
38366 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
38368 @item ReverseContinue
38369 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
38373 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
38376 @item TracepointSource
38377 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
38378 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
38381 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
38384 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
38386 @item QDisableRandomization
38387 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
38389 @item StaticTracepoint
38390 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
38391 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
38393 @item InstallInTrace
38394 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
38395 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
38397 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
38398 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
38399 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
38400 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
38402 @item QTBuffer:size
38403 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
38404 packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
38407 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
38408 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
38409 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
38411 @item BreakpointCommands
38412 @cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
38413 The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
38414 rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
38417 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
38420 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
38423 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:pt} packet.
38425 @item Qbtrace-conf:bts:size
38426 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace-conf:bts:size} packet.
38428 @item Qbtrace-conf:pt:size
38429 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace-conf:pt:size} packet.
38432 The remote stub reports the @samp{swbreak} stop reason for memory
38436 The remote stub reports the @samp{hwbreak} stop reason for hardware
38440 The remote stub reports the @samp{fork} stop reason for fork events.
38443 The remote stub reports the @samp{vfork} stop reason for vfork events
38444 and vforkdone events.
38447 The remote stub reports the @samp{exec} stop reason for exec events.
38449 @item vContSupported
38450 The remote stub reports the supported actions in the reply to
38451 @samp{vCont?} packet.
38453 @item QThreadEvents
38454 The remote stub understands the @samp{QThreadEvents} packet.
38457 The remote stub reports the @samp{N} stop reply.
38462 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
38463 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
38464 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
38465 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
38470 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
38471 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
38472 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
38473 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
38474 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
38478 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
38479 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
38481 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
38482 target has previously requested.
38484 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
38485 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
38491 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
38492 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
38493 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
38494 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
38495 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
38500 @itemx QTDisconnected
38507 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
38509 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
38511 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
38512 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
38513 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
38514 Obtain from the target OS a printable string description of thread
38515 attributes for the thread @var{thread-id}; see @ref{thread-id syntax},
38516 for the forms of @var{thread-id}. This
38517 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
38518 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
38519 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
38520 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
38521 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
38525 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
38526 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
38527 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
38528 the thread's attributes.
38531 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
38532 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
38533 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
38552 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
38554 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38555 @cindex read special object, remote request
38556 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
38557 @anchor{qXfer read}
38558 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
38559 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
38560 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
38561 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
38562 additional details about what data to access.
38567 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
38568 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
38569 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
38570 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
38571 It is possible for @var{data} to have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
38575 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
38576 There is no more data to be read. It is possible for @var{data} to
38577 have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the request.
38580 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
38581 There is no more data to be read.
38584 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
38587 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
38588 The @var{nn} part is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
38591 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
38592 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
38595 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All the
38596 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
38597 formats, listed above.
38600 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38601 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
38602 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
38603 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
38605 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38606 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38608 @item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38609 @anchor{qXfer btrace read}
38611 Return a description of the current branch trace.
38612 @xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
38613 packet may have one of the following values:
38617 Returns all available branch trace.
38620 Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
38621 the last read request.
38624 Returns the new branch trace since the last read request. Adds a new
38625 block to the end of the trace that begins at zero and ends at the source
38626 location of the first branch in the trace buffer. This extra block is
38627 used to stitch traces together.
38629 If the trace buffer overflowed, returns an error indicating the overflow.
38632 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
38633 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38635 @item qXfer:btrace-conf:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38636 @anchor{qXfer btrace-conf read}
38638 Return a description of the current branch trace configuration.
38639 @xref{Branch Trace Configuration Format}.
38641 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
38642 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38644 @item qXfer:exec-file:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38645 @anchor{qXfer executable filename read}
38646 Return the full absolute name of the file that was executed to create
38647 a process running on the remote system. The annex specifies the
38648 numeric process ID of the process to query, encoded as a hexadecimal
38649 number. If the annex part is empty the remote stub should return the
38650 filename corresponding to the currently executing process.
38652 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38653 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38655 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38656 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
38657 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
38658 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
38659 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
38661 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38662 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38664 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38665 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
38666 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
38667 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
38668 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38670 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
38671 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
38672 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
38674 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38675 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38677 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38678 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
38679 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
38680 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
38681 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
38682 stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
38683 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
38684 (@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
38686 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
38687 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
38689 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38690 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38692 If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
38693 packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
38694 contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
38695 arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
38698 @item start=@var{address}
38699 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
38700 link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
38701 then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
38702 chosen as the starting point.
38704 @item prev=@var{address}
38705 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
38706 link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
38707 specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
38708 the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
38709 exists prior to the starting point.
38713 Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
38716 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38717 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
38718 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
38719 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
38720 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38722 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38723 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38725 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38726 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
38728 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
38729 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
38730 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
38733 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38734 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
38735 (@pxref{qSupported}).
38737 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38738 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
38739 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
38740 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
38741 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38743 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38744 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
38745 (@pxref{qSupported}).
38747 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38748 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
38749 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
38750 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
38751 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
38752 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
38753 in that context to be accessed.
38755 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38756 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
38757 (@pxref{qSupported}).
38759 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38760 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
38761 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
38762 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
38763 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38765 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38766 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38768 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38769 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
38771 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
38772 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
38773 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
38775 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38776 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38778 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38779 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
38781 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
38782 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
38784 This packet is not probed by default.
38786 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
38787 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
38788 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
38789 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
38790 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
38792 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38793 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38795 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
38796 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
38797 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
38798 @xref{Operating System Information}.
38802 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
38803 @cindex write data into object, remote request
38804 @anchor{qXfer write}
38805 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
38806 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
38807 into the data. The binary-encoded data (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be
38808 written is given by @var{data}@dots{}. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
38809 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
38815 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
38816 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
38819 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
38822 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
38823 The @var{nn} part is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
38826 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
38827 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
38830 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All the
38831 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
38832 formats, listed above.
38835 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
38836 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
38837 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
38838 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
38839 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
38841 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38842 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
38843 (@pxref{qSupported}).
38845 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
38846 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
38847 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
38848 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
38849 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
38850 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
38851 in that context to be accessed.
38853 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38854 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38857 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
38858 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
38859 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
38860 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
38861 must respond with an empty packet.
38863 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
38864 @cindex query attached, remote request
38865 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
38866 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
38867 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
38868 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
38869 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
38870 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
38871 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
38873 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
38874 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
38875 the @code{quit} command.
38880 The remote server attached to an existing process.
38882 The remote server created a new process.
38884 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38888 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using Branch Trace Store.
38893 Branch tracing has been enabled.
38895 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38899 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using Intel Processor Trace.
38904 Branch tracing has been enabled.
38906 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38910 Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
38915 Branch tracing has been disabled.
38917 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38920 @item Qbtrace-conf:bts:size=@var{value}
38921 Set the requested ring buffer size for new threads that use the
38922 btrace recording method in bts format.
38927 The ring buffer size has been set.
38929 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38932 @item Qbtrace-conf:pt:size=@var{value}
38933 Set the requested ring buffer size for new threads that use the
38934 btrace recording method in pt format.
38939 The ring buffer size has been set.
38941 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
38946 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
38947 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
38949 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
38950 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
38951 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
38954 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
38955 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
38958 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
38959 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
38962 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
38965 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
38966 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
38967 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
38969 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
38974 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
38977 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
38980 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
38984 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
38985 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
38988 * MIPS Register packet Format::
38989 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
38992 @node MIPS Register packet Format
38993 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
38994 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
38996 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
38997 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
38998 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
38999 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
39000 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
39001 most-significant -- least-significant.
39006 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
39007 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
39008 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
39011 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
39012 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
39017 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
39018 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
39019 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
39021 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
39026 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
39029 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
39032 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
39035 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
39039 @node Tracepoint Packets
39040 @section Tracepoint Packets
39041 @cindex tracepoint packets
39042 @cindex packets, tracepoint
39044 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
39045 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
39049 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
39050 @cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
39051 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
39052 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
39053 the tracepoint is disabled. The @var{step} gives the tracepoint's step
39054 count, and @var{pass} gives its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
39055 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
39056 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
39057 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
39058 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
39059 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
39060 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
39061 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
39067 The packet was understood and carried out.
39069 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
39071 The packet was not recognized.
39074 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
39075 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. The @var{n} and
39076 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
39077 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
39078 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
39079 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
39080 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
39082 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
39083 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
39084 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
39085 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
39086 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
39087 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
39088 tracepoint actions.
39090 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
39091 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
39097 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask},
39098 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
39099 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
39100 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
39101 not fit in a 32-bit word.
39103 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
39104 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
39105 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
39106 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
39107 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
39108 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
39109 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
39111 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
39112 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
39113 it directs. The agent expression @var{expr} is as described in
39114 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
39115 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
39116 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
39121 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
39122 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
39123 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
39124 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
39125 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
39126 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
39127 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
39128 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
39133 The packet was understood and carried out.
39135 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
39137 The packet was not recognized.
39140 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
39141 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
39142 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
39143 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
39144 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. The @var{type}
39145 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
39146 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
39147 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
39149 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
39150 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
39151 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
39152 fit in a single packet.
39153 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
39154 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
39156 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
39157 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
39158 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
39159 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
39161 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
39162 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
39165 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
39166 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
39167 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
39168 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
39169 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
39170 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
39171 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
39174 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}:@var{builtin}:@var{name}
39175 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
39176 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
39177 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
39178 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
39179 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
39180 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
39181 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
39182 mentioned in expressions. The value @var{builtin} should be 1 (one)
39183 if the trace state variable is builtin and 0 (zero) if it is not builtin.
39184 @value{GDBN} only sets @var{builtin} to 1 if a previous @samp{qTfV} or
39185 @samp{qTsV} packet had it set. The contents of @var{name} is the
39186 hex-encoded name (without the leading @samp{$}) of the trace state
39189 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
39190 @cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
39191 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
39192 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
39193 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
39195 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
39196 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
39197 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
39198 one of the following forms:
39202 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
39203 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
39204 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
39207 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
39208 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
39212 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
39213 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39214 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
39215 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
39217 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
39218 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39219 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
39220 is a hexadecimal number.
39222 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
39223 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
39224 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
39225 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
39228 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
39229 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
39230 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
39233 @cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
39234 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
39235 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
39236 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
39237 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
39238 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
39239 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
39246 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
39248 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length}
39249 is a hexadecimal number greater or equal to 1. A reply
39250 of 1 means that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction
39251 regardless of size.
39253 An error has occurred.
39255 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
39259 @cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
39260 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
39261 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
39262 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
39263 instruction reply packet}).
39266 @cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
39267 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
39269 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
39271 @cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
39272 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
39273 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
39274 of data from it will resume.
39276 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
39278 @cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
39279 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
39280 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
39281 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
39284 @cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
39285 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
39287 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
39288 @cindex @samp{QTro} packet
39289 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
39290 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
39291 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
39293 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
39294 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
39295 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
39296 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
39298 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
39299 @cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
39300 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
39301 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
39302 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
39303 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
39306 @cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
39307 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
39309 The reply has the form:
39313 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
39314 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
39315 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
39316 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
39320 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
39321 explanations as one of the optional fields:
39326 No trace has been run yet.
39328 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
39329 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
39330 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
39331 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
39332 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
39335 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
39337 @item tdisconnected:0
39338 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
39340 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
39341 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
39343 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
39344 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
39345 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
39346 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression); it
39350 The trace stopped for some other reason.
39354 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
39355 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
39356 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
39357 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
39362 @item tframes:@var{n}
39363 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
39365 @item tcreated:@var{n}
39366 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
39367 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
39369 @item tsize:@var{n}
39370 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
39372 @item tfree:@var{n}
39373 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
39375 @item circular:@var{n}
39376 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
39377 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
39378 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
39381 @item disconn:@var{n}
39382 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
39383 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
39384 that the trace run will stop.
39388 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
39389 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
39390 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
39391 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
39392 address @var{addr}.
39396 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
39397 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
39398 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
39399 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
39400 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
39404 @item qTV:@var{var}
39405 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
39406 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
39407 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
39412 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
39413 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
39414 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
39415 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
39416 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
39417 program is running.
39420 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
39421 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
39426 @cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
39428 @cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
39429 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
39430 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
39431 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
39432 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
39433 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
39436 @cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
39438 @cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
39439 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
39440 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
39441 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
39442 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
39443 trace state variables.
39449 @cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
39450 @cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
39451 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
39452 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
39453 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
39454 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
39458 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
39460 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
39461 a comma-separated list of markers
39463 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
39465 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
39467 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
39471 The @var{address} is encoded in hex;
39472 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
39474 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
39475 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
39476 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
39477 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
39480 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
39482 @cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
39483 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
39484 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
39485 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
39486 tracepoint markers.
39488 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
39489 @cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
39490 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
39491 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. The @var{filename} is encoded
39492 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
39493 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
39495 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
39496 @cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
39497 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
39498 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
39499 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
39500 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
39501 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
39502 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
39505 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
39506 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
39507 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
39509 @item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
39510 @anchor{QTBuffer-size}
39511 @cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
39512 This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
39513 @var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
39514 use whatever size it prefers.
39516 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
39517 @cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
39518 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
39519 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
39520 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
39524 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
39525 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
39526 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
39527 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
39528 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
39529 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
39530 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
39531 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
39532 it had executed in the original location.
39534 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
39535 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
39536 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
39537 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
39538 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
39539 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
39540 format of the request is:
39543 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
39545 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
39546 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
39547 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
39548 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
39549 memory starting at @var{to}.
39554 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
39555 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. The @var{adjusted_size} is
39556 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
39558 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
39559 relocating the instruction.
39562 @node Host I/O Packets
39563 @section Host I/O Packets
39564 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
39565 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
39567 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
39568 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
39569 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
39570 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
39571 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
39572 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
39573 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
39574 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
39575 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
39576 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
39578 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
39579 its arguments. They have this format:
39583 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
39584 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
39585 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
39586 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
39587 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
39588 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
39589 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
39590 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
39591 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
39595 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
39599 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
39600 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
39601 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
39602 @var{errno} will be included in the result specifying a
39603 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
39604 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
39605 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
39606 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
39607 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
39611 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
39615 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
39618 @item vFile:open: @var{filename}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
39619 Open a file at @var{filename} and return a file descriptor for it, or
39620 return -1 if an error occurs. The @var{filename} is a string,
39621 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
39622 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
39623 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
39624 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
39626 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
39627 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
39628 -1 if an error occurs.
39630 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
39631 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
39632 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
39633 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
39634 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
39635 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
39636 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
39637 @var{count} was zero.
39639 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
39640 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
39641 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
39642 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
39643 some characters were escaped.
39645 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
39646 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
39647 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
39648 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
39649 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
39650 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
39651 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
39654 @item vFile:fstat: @var{fd}
39655 Get information about the open file corresponding to @var{fd}.
39656 On success the information is returned as a binary attachment
39657 and the return value is the size of this attachment in bytes.
39658 If an error occurs the return value is -1. The format of the
39659 returned binary attachment is as described in @ref{struct stat}.
39661 @item vFile:unlink: @var{filename}
39662 Delete the file at @var{filename} on the target. Return 0,
39663 or -1 if an error occurs. The @var{filename} is a string.
39665 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
39666 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
39667 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
39669 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
39670 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
39671 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
39672 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
39673 some characters were escaped.
39675 @item vFile:setfs: @var{pid}
39676 Select the filesystem on which @code{vFile} operations with
39677 @var{filename} arguments will operate. This is required for
39678 @value{GDBN} to be able to access files on remote targets where
39679 the remote stub does not share a common filesystem with the
39682 If @var{pid} is nonzero, select the filesystem as seen by process
39683 @var{pid}. If @var{pid} is zero, select the filesystem as seen by
39684 the remote stub. Return 0 on success, or -1 if an error occurs.
39685 If @code{vFile:setfs:} indicates success, the selected filesystem
39686 remains selected until the next successful @code{vFile:setfs:}
39692 @section Interrupts
39693 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
39694 @anchor{interrupting remote targets}
39696 In all-stop mode, when a program on the remote target is running,
39697 @value{GDBN} may attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C},
39698 @code{BREAK} or a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}, control of which
39699 is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
39701 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
39702 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
39703 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
39704 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
39705 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
39707 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
39708 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
39709 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
39710 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
39711 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
39712 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
39713 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
39714 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
39716 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
39717 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
39718 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
39720 In non-stop mode, because packet resumptions are asynchronous
39721 (@pxref{vCont packet}), @value{GDBN} is always free to send a remote
39722 command to the remote stub, even when the target is running. For that
39723 reason, @value{GDBN} instead sends a regular packet (@pxref{vCtrlC
39724 packet}) with the usual packet framing instead of the single byte
39727 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
39728 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
39729 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
39730 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
39731 currently-executing threads and processes.
39732 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
39733 running program, it should send one of the stop
39734 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
39735 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
39736 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
39737 Interrupts received while the
39738 program is stopped are queued and the program will be interrupted when
39739 it is resumed next time.
39741 @node Notification Packets
39742 @section Notification Packets
39743 @cindex notification packets
39744 @cindex packets, notification
39746 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
39747 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
39748 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
39749 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
39750 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
39751 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
39754 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
39755 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
39756 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
39757 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
39758 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
39759 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
39760 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
39762 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
39763 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
39765 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
39766 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
39767 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
39768 not they understand it.
39770 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
39771 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
39772 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
39773 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
39776 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
39777 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
39778 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
39779 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
39780 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
39782 Each notification is comprised of three parts:
39784 @item @var{name}:@var{event}
39785 The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
39786 exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
39787 carrying the specific information about the notification, and
39788 @var{name} specifying the name of the notification.
39790 The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
39791 acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
39794 The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
39795 @value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
39797 The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
39798 at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
39799 appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
39800 acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
39801 additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
39802 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
39803 synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
39804 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
39805 the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
39806 @value{GDBN} may not have received it.
39808 Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
39809 otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
39810 expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
39811 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
39812 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
39813 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
39815 After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
39816 sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
39817 stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
39818 @value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
39819 stub first, which the stub should process normally.
39821 Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
39822 events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
39823 normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
39824 packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
39825 other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
39828 If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
39829 @var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
39830 At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
39831 and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
39832 won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
39833 received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
39834 a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
39835 the process shall be repeated.
39837 The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
39840 <- @code{%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
39843 <- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
39845 <- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
39850 The following notifications are defined:
39851 @multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
39860 @tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
39861 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
39862 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
39864 @tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
39868 @node Remote Non-Stop
39869 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
39871 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
39872 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
39873 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
39874 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39876 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
39877 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
39878 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
39879 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
39880 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
39881 probe the target state after a mode change.
39883 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
39884 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
39885 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
39886 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
39887 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
39888 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
39889 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
39890 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
39891 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
39892 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
39893 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
39895 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
39896 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
39897 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
39898 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
39899 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
39900 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
39901 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
39902 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
39903 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
39904 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
39905 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
39908 If the stub supports non-stop mode, it should also support the
39909 @samp{swbreak} stop reason if software breakpoints are supported, and
39910 the @samp{hwbreak} stop reason if hardware breakpoints are supported
39911 (@pxref{swbreak stop reason}). This is because given the asynchronous
39912 nature of non-stop mode, between the time a thread hits a breakpoint
39913 and the time the event is finally processed by @value{GDBN}, the
39914 breakpoint may have already been removed from the target. Due to
39915 this, @value{GDBN} needs to be able to tell whether a trap stop was
39916 caused by a delayed breakpoint event, which should be ignored, as
39917 opposed to a random trap signal, which should be reported to the user.
39918 Note the @samp{swbreak} feature implies that the target is responsible
39919 for adjusting the PC when a software breakpoint triggers, if
39920 necessary, such as on the x86 architecture.
39922 @node Packet Acknowledgment
39923 @section Packet Acknowledgment
39925 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
39926 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
39927 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
39928 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
39929 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
39930 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
39931 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
39933 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
39934 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
39935 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
39936 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
39937 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
39939 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
39940 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
39941 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
39942 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
39944 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
39945 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
39946 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
39947 @pxref{qSupported}.
39948 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
39949 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
39950 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
39951 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
39952 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
39953 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
39954 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
39956 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
39957 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
39958 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
39960 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
39961 new connection is established,
39962 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
39963 for the current connection, once disabled.
39968 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
39969 does not get any direct output:
39974 @emph{target restarts}
39977 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
39981 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
39984 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
39989 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
39993 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
39997 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
39998 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
39999 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
40002 * File-I/O Overview::
40003 * Protocol Basics::
40004 * The F Request Packet::
40005 * The F Reply Packet::
40006 * The Ctrl-C Message::
40008 * List of Supported Calls::
40009 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
40011 * File-I/O Examples::
40014 @node File-I/O Overview
40015 @subsection File-I/O Overview
40016 @cindex file-i/o overview
40018 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
40019 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
40020 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
40021 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
40022 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
40023 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
40025 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
40026 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
40027 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
40028 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
40029 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
40031 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
40032 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
40033 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
40034 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
40035 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
40036 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
40037 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
40039 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
40040 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
40041 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
40042 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
40043 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
40046 (@value{GDBP}) continue
40047 <- target requests 'system call X'
40048 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
40049 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
40050 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
40051 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
40054 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
40055 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
40056 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
40057 system are not supported by this protocol.
40059 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
40061 @node Protocol Basics
40062 @subsection Protocol Basics
40063 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
40065 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
40066 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
40067 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
40068 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
40069 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
40070 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
40071 to call the appropriate host system call:
40075 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
40078 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
40079 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
40080 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
40081 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
40085 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
40089 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
40090 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
40091 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
40092 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
40096 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
40097 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
40100 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
40103 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
40106 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
40107 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
40108 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
40109 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
40114 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
40115 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
40122 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
40129 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
40130 the latest continue or step action.
40132 @node The F Request Packet
40133 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
40134 @cindex file-i/o request packet
40135 @cindex @code{F} request packet
40137 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
40140 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
40142 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
40143 This is just the name of the function.
40145 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
40146 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
40147 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
40148 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
40149 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
40150 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
40151 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
40157 @node The F Reply Packet
40158 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
40159 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
40160 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
40162 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
40166 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
40168 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
40170 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
40172 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
40174 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
40175 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
40176 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
40183 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
40190 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
40195 @node The Ctrl-C Message
40196 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
40197 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
40199 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
40200 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
40201 the target should behave as if it had
40202 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
40203 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
40204 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
40207 It's important for the target to know in which
40208 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
40212 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
40215 The system call on the host has been finished.
40219 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
40220 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
40221 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
40222 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
40223 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
40224 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
40226 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
40227 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
40228 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
40229 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
40230 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
40231 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
40232 or the full action has been completed.
40235 @subsection Console I/O
40236 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
40238 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
40239 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
40240 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
40241 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
40242 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
40243 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
40248 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
40250 system call is treated as finished.
40253 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
40257 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
40258 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
40262 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
40263 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
40264 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
40265 is stopped at the user's request.
40268 @node List of Supported Calls
40269 @subsection List of Supported Calls
40270 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
40287 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
40288 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
40293 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
40294 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
40298 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
40301 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
40305 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
40306 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
40310 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
40311 an error and open() fails.
40314 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
40315 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
40316 truncated to zero length.
40319 The file is opened in append mode.
40322 The file is opened for reading only.
40325 The file is opened for writing only.
40328 The file is opened for reading and writing.
40332 Other bits are silently ignored.
40336 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
40340 User has read permission.
40343 User has write permission.
40346 Group has read permission.
40349 Group has write permission.
40352 Others have read permission.
40355 Others have write permission.
40359 Other bits are silently ignored.
40362 @item Return value:
40363 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
40370 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
40373 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
40376 The requested access is not allowed.
40379 @var{pathname} was too long.
40382 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
40385 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
40388 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
40389 write access was requested.
40392 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
40395 No space on device to create the file.
40398 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
40401 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
40405 The call was interrupted by the user.
40411 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
40412 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
40421 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
40423 @item Return value:
40424 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
40430 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
40433 The call was interrupted by the user.
40439 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
40440 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
40445 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
40449 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
40451 @item Return value:
40452 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
40453 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
40454 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
40460 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
40464 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
40467 The call was interrupted by the user.
40473 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
40474 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
40479 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
40483 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
40485 @item Return value:
40486 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
40487 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
40494 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
40498 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
40501 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
40502 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
40505 No space on device to write the data.
40508 The call was interrupted by the user.
40514 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
40515 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
40520 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
40524 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
40526 @var{flag} is one of:
40530 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
40533 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
40537 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
40541 @item Return value:
40542 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
40543 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
40544 value of -1 is returned.
40550 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
40553 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
40556 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
40559 The call was interrupted by the user.
40565 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
40566 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
40571 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
40575 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
40577 @item Return value:
40578 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
40584 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
40588 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
40591 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
40595 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
40599 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
40600 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
40601 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
40604 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
40607 No access to the file or the path of the file.
40611 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
40614 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
40617 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
40620 The device containing the file has no room for the new
40624 The call was interrupted by the user.
40630 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
40631 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
40636 int unlink(const char *pathname);
40640 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
40642 @item Return value:
40643 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
40649 No access to the file or the path of the file.
40652 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
40655 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
40656 being used by another process.
40659 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
40662 @var{pathname} was too long.
40665 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
40668 A component of the path is not a directory.
40671 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
40674 The call was interrupted by the user.
40680 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
40681 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
40682 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
40687 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
40688 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
40692 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
40693 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
40695 @item Return value:
40696 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
40702 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
40705 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
40706 path is an empty string.
40709 A component of the path is not a directory.
40712 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
40715 No access to the file or the path of the file.
40718 @var{pathname} was too long.
40721 The call was interrupted by the user.
40727 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
40728 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
40733 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
40737 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
40739 @item Return value:
40740 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
40746 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
40749 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
40755 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
40756 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
40761 int isatty(int fd);
40765 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
40767 @item Return value:
40768 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
40774 The call was interrupted by the user.
40779 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
40780 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
40781 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
40782 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
40787 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
40788 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
40793 int system(const char *command);
40797 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
40799 @item Return value:
40800 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
40801 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
40802 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
40803 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
40804 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
40805 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
40806 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
40812 The call was interrupted by the user.
40817 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
40818 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
40819 the host is simplified before it's returned
40820 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
40821 is discarded, and the return value consists
40822 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
40824 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
40825 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
40826 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
40829 @item set remote system-call-allowed
40830 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
40831 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
40832 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
40834 @item show remote system-call-allowed
40835 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
40836 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
40840 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
40841 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
40842 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
40845 * Integral Datatypes::
40847 * Memory Transfer::
40852 @node Integral Datatypes
40853 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
40854 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
40856 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
40857 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
40858 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
40860 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
40861 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
40863 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
40865 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
40866 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
40868 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
40870 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
40871 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
40874 @node Pointer Values
40875 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
40876 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
40878 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
40879 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
40880 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
40881 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
40888 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
40889 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
40890 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
40891 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
40897 @node Memory Transfer
40898 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
40899 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
40901 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
40902 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
40903 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
40904 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
40905 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
40906 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
40907 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
40911 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
40912 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
40914 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
40915 is defined as follows:
40919 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
40920 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
40921 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
40922 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
40923 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
40924 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
40925 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
40926 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
40927 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
40928 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
40929 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
40930 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
40931 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
40935 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
40936 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
40937 structure is of size 64 bytes.
40939 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
40945 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
40948 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
40951 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
40952 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
40957 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
40962 These values have a host and file system dependent
40963 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
40964 support exact timing values.
40967 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
40968 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
40971 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
40972 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
40973 get truncated on the target.
40975 @node struct timeval
40976 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
40977 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
40979 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
40980 is defined as follows:
40984 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
40985 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
40989 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
40990 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
40991 structure is of size 8 bytes.
40994 @subsection Constants
40995 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
40997 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
40998 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
40999 values before and after the call as needed.
41010 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
41011 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
41013 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
41025 @node mode_t Values
41026 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
41027 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
41029 All values are given in octal representation.
41046 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
41047 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
41049 All values are given in decimal representation.
41074 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
41075 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
41078 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
41079 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
41088 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
41089 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
41091 All values are given in decimal representation.
41094 INT_MIN -2147483648
41096 UINT_MAX 4294967295
41097 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
41098 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
41099 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
41102 @node File-I/O Examples
41103 @subsection File-I/O Examples
41104 @cindex file-i/o examples
41106 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
41107 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
41110 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
41111 @emph{request memory read from target}
41114 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
41118 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
41119 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
41122 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41123 @emph{request memory write to target}
41124 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
41125 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
41129 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
41130 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
41133 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41137 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
41141 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41146 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
41150 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41151 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
41155 @node Library List Format
41156 @section Library List Format
41157 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
41159 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
41160 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
41161 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
41162 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
41163 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
41164 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
41165 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
41166 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
41167 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
41170 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
41171 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
41172 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
41173 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
41175 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
41176 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
41177 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
41178 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
41179 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
41180 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
41182 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41183 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
41185 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
41186 offset, looks like this:
41190 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
41191 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
41196 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
41197 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
41201 <library name="sharedlib.o">
41202 <section address="0x10000000"/>
41203 <section address="0x20000000"/>
41204 <section address="0x30000000"/>
41209 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
41212 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
41213 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
41214 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41215 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
41216 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
41217 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
41218 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
41219 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
41220 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
41223 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
41224 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
41225 section for each library.
41227 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
41228 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
41229 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
41231 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
41232 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
41233 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
41234 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
41236 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
41237 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
41238 target, the following parameters are reported:
41242 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
41243 @code{struct link_map}.
41245 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
41246 (Thread Local Storage) access.
41248 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
41249 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
41250 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
41251 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
41253 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
41256 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
41257 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
41258 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
41260 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41261 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
41263 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
41267 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
41268 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
41270 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
41272 </library-list-svr>
41275 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
41278 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
41279 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
41280 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41281 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
41282 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
41283 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
41284 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
41285 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
41286 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
41289 @node Memory Map Format
41290 @section Memory Map Format
41291 @cindex memory map format
41293 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
41294 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
41297 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
41298 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
41299 lists memory regions.
41301 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41302 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
41304 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
41307 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41308 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
41309 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
41310 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
41316 Each region can be either:
41321 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
41325 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
41330 A region of read-only memory:
41333 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
41338 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
41342 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
41343 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
41349 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
41350 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
41351 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
41353 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
41356 <!-- ................................................... -->
41357 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
41358 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
41359 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
41360 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
41361 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
41362 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory)*>
41363 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
41364 <!ELEMENT memory (property)*>
41365 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
41366 and its type, or device. -->
41367 <!ATTLIST memory type (ram|rom|flash) #REQUIRED
41368 start CDATA #REQUIRED
41369 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
41370 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
41371 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
41372 <!ATTLIST property name (blocksize) #REQUIRED>
41375 @node Thread List Format
41376 @section Thread List Format
41377 @cindex thread list format
41379 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
41380 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
41381 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
41382 the following structure:
41385 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41387 <thread id="id" core="0" name="name">
41388 ... description ...
41393 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
41394 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
41395 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
41396 the thread was last executing on. The @samp{name} attribute, if
41397 present, specifies the human-readable name of the thread. The content
41398 of the of @samp{thread} element is interpreted as human-readable
41399 auxiliary information. The @samp{handle} attribute, if present,
41400 is a hex encoded representation of the thread handle.
41403 @node Traceframe Info Format
41404 @section Traceframe Info Format
41405 @cindex traceframe info format
41407 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
41408 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
41409 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
41410 collected in a traceframe.
41412 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
41413 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
41415 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41416 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
41418 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
41421 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41422 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
41423 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
41424 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
41430 Each traceframe block can be either:
41435 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
41436 @var{length} bytes from there:
41439 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
41443 A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
41447 <tvar id="@var{number}"/>
41452 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
41455 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
41456 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41458 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
41459 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
41460 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
41462 <!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
41465 @node Branch Trace Format
41466 @section Branch Trace Format
41467 @cindex branch trace format
41469 In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
41470 @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
41471 represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
41472 branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
41474 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
41475 (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
41477 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41478 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
41480 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
41483 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41485 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
41486 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
41495 A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
41496 and ending at @var{end}:
41499 <block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
41504 The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
41507 <!ELEMENT btrace (block* | pt) >
41508 <!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41510 <!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
41511 <!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
41512 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
41514 <!ELEMENT pt (pt-config?, raw?)>
41516 <!ELEMENT pt-config (cpu?)>
41518 <!ELEMENT cpu EMPTY>
41519 <!ATTLIST cpu vendor CDATA #REQUIRED
41520 family CDATA #REQUIRED
41521 model CDATA #REQUIRED
41522 stepping CDATA #REQUIRED>
41524 <!ELEMENT raw (#PCDATA)>
41527 @node Branch Trace Configuration Format
41528 @section Branch Trace Configuration Format
41529 @cindex branch trace configuration format
41531 For each inferior thread, @value{GDBN} can obtain the branch trace
41532 configuration using the @samp{qXfer:btrace-conf:read}
41533 (@pxref{qXfer btrace-conf read}) packet.
41535 The configuration describes the branch trace format and configuration
41536 settings for that format. The following information is described:
41540 This thread uses the @dfn{Branch Trace Store} (@acronym{BTS}) format.
41543 The size of the @acronym{BTS} ring buffer in bytes.
41546 This thread uses the @dfn{Intel Processor Trace} (@acronym{Intel
41550 The size of the @acronym{Intel PT} ring buffer in bytes.
41554 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41555 branch trace configuration discovery. @xref{Expat}.
41557 The formal DTD for the branch trace configuration format is given below:
41560 <!ELEMENT btrace-conf (bts?, pt?)>
41561 <!ATTLIST btrace-conf version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
41563 <!ELEMENT bts EMPTY>
41564 <!ATTLIST bts size CDATA #IMPLIED>
41566 <!ELEMENT pt EMPTY>
41567 <!ATTLIST pt size CDATA #IMPLIED>
41570 @include agentexpr.texi
41572 @node Target Descriptions
41573 @appendix Target Descriptions
41574 @cindex target descriptions
41576 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
41577 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
41578 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
41579 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
41580 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
41581 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
41582 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
41586 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
41587 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
41589 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
41590 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
41591 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
41593 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
41594 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
41595 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
41598 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
41599 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
41600 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
41601 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
41602 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
41604 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41605 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
41608 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
41609 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
41610 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
41612 * Enum Target Types:: How to define enum target types.
41613 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
41616 @node Retrieving Descriptions
41617 @section Retrieving Descriptions
41619 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
41620 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
41621 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
41622 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
41623 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
41624 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
41625 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
41628 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
41629 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
41630 specify a file are:
41633 @cindex set tdesc filename
41634 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
41635 Read the target description from @var{path}.
41637 @cindex unset tdesc filename
41638 @item unset tdesc filename
41639 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
41640 will use the description supplied by the current target.
41642 @cindex show tdesc filename
41643 @item show tdesc filename
41644 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
41648 @node Target Description Format
41649 @section Target Description Format
41650 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
41652 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
41653 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
41654 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
41655 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
41656 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
41657 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
41658 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
41660 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
41661 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
41662 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
41663 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
41664 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
41666 Here is a simple target description:
41669 <target version="1.0">
41670 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
41675 This minimal description only says that the target uses
41676 the x86-64 architecture.
41678 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
41679 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
41680 are explained further below.
41683 <?xml version="1.0"?>
41684 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
41685 <target version="1.0">
41686 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
41687 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
41688 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
41689 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
41694 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
41695 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
41696 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
41697 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
41698 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
41699 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
41700 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
41701 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
41702 the version mismatch.
41704 @subsection Inclusion
41705 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
41708 @cindex <xi:include>
41711 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
41712 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
41713 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
41714 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
41715 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
41718 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
41722 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
41723 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
41724 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
41725 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
41726 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
41727 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
41728 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
41729 original description.
41731 @subsection Architecture
41732 @cindex <architecture>
41734 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
41737 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
41740 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
41741 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
41744 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
41746 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
41747 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
41749 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
41752 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
41755 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
41756 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
41758 @subsection Compatible Architecture
41759 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
41761 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
41762 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
41764 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
41767 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
41770 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
41771 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
41773 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
41774 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
41775 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
41776 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
41777 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
41778 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
41779 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
41782 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
41783 <compatible>spu</compatible>
41786 @subsection Features
41789 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
41790 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
41791 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
41795 <feature name="@var{name}">
41796 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
41802 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
41803 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
41804 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
41805 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
41809 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
41810 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
41811 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
41812 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
41813 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite
41816 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
41817 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
41818 Types must be defined before they are used.
41821 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
41822 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
41823 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
41827 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
41831 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
41832 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
41833 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
41834 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
41837 <union id="@var{id}">
41838 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
41845 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
41846 it with either a structure type or a flags type.
41847 A flags type may only contain bitfields.
41848 A structure type may either contain only bitfields or contain no bitfields.
41849 If the value contains only bitfields, its total size in bytes must be
41852 Non-bitfield values have a @var{name} and @var{type}.
41855 <struct id="@var{id}">
41856 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
41861 Both @var{name} and @var{type} values are required.
41862 No implicit padding is added.
41864 Bitfield values have a @var{name}, @var{start}, @var{end} and @var{type}.
41867 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
41868 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}" type="@var{type}"/>
41874 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
41875 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}" type="@var{type}"/>
41880 The @var{name} value is required.
41881 Bitfield values may be named with the empty string, @samp{""},
41882 in which case the field is ``filler'' and its value is not printed.
41883 Not all bits need to be specified, so ``filler'' fields are optional.
41885 The @var{start} and @var{end} values are required, and @var{type}
41887 The field's @var{start} must be less than or equal to its @var{end},
41888 and zero represents the least significant bit.
41890 The default value of @var{type} is @code{bool} for single bit fields,
41891 and an unsigned integer otherwise.
41893 Which to choose? Structures or flags?
41895 Registers defined with @samp{flags} have these advantages over
41896 defining them with @samp{struct}:
41900 Arithmetic may be performed on them as if they were integers.
41902 They are printed in a more readable fashion.
41905 Registers defined with @samp{struct} have one advantage over
41906 defining them with @samp{flags}:
41910 One can fetch individual fields like in @samp{C}.
41913 (gdb) print $my_struct_reg.field3
41919 @subsection Registers
41922 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
41925 <reg name="@var{name}"
41926 bitsize="@var{size}"
41927 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
41928 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
41929 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
41930 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
41934 The components are as follows:
41939 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
41942 The register's size, in bits.
41945 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
41946 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
41947 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
41948 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
41949 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
41950 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
41951 in order of increasing register number.
41954 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
41955 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
41956 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
41957 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
41961 The type of the register. It may be a predefined type, a type
41962 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
41963 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
41964 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
41965 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
41966 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
41969 The register group to which this register belongs. It can be one of the
41970 standard register groups @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{vector} or an
41971 arbitrary string. Group names should be limited to alphanumeric characters.
41972 If a group name is made up of multiple words the words may be separated by
41973 hyphens; e.g.@: @code{special-group} or @code{ultra-special-group}. If no
41974 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register in
41975 @code{info registers}.
41979 @node Predefined Target Types
41980 @section Predefined Target Types
41981 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
41983 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
41984 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
41985 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
41986 types. The currently supported types are:
41991 Boolean type, occupying a single bit.
41998 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42005 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42009 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
42010 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
42011 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
42012 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
42013 may be marked as data pointers.
42016 Single precision IEEE floating point.
42019 Double precision IEEE floating point.
42022 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
42025 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
42028 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
42031 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
42035 @node Enum Target Types
42036 @section Enum Target Types
42037 @cindex target descriptions, enum types
42039 Enum target types are useful in @samp{struct} and @samp{flags}
42040 register descriptions. @xref{Target Description Format}.
42042 Enum types have a name, size and a list of name/value pairs.
42045 <enum id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42046 <evalue name="@var{name}" value="@var{value}"/>
42051 Enums must be defined before they are used.
42054 <enum id="levels_type" size="4">
42055 <evalue name="low" value="0"/>
42056 <evalue name="high" value="1"/>
42058 <flags id="flags_type" size="4">
42059 <field name="X" start="0"/>
42060 <field name="LEVEL" start="1" end="1" type="levels_type"/>
42062 <reg name="flags" bitsize="32" type="flags_type"/>
42065 Given that description, a value of 3 for the @samp{flags} register
42066 would be printed as:
42069 (gdb) info register flags
42070 flags 0x3 [ X LEVEL=high ]
42073 @node Standard Target Features
42074 @section Standard Target Features
42075 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
42077 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
42078 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
42079 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
42080 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
42081 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
42082 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
42083 can recognize them.
42085 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
42086 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
42087 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
42088 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
42089 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
42090 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
42091 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
42092 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
42094 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
42095 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
42096 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
42098 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
42099 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
42100 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
42101 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
42103 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
42104 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
42105 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
42108 * AArch64 Features::
42112 * MicroBlaze Features::
42116 * Nios II Features::
42117 * OpenRISC 1000 Features::
42118 * PowerPC Features::
42119 * S/390 and System z Features::
42125 @node AArch64 Features
42126 @subsection AArch64 Features
42127 @cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
42129 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
42130 targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
42131 @samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
42133 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
42134 it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
42138 @subsection ARC Features
42139 @cindex target descriptions, ARC Features
42141 ARC processors are highly configurable, so even core registers and their number
42142 are not completely predetermined. In addition flags and PC registers which are
42143 important to @value{GDBN} are not ``core'' registers in ARC. It is required
42144 that one of the core registers features is present.
42145 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arc.aux-minimal} feature is mandatory.
42147 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arc.core.v2} feature is required for ARC EM and ARC HS
42148 targets with a normal register file. It should contain registers @samp{r0}
42149 through @samp{r25}, @samp{gp}, @samp{fp}, @samp{sp}, @samp{r30}, @samp{blink},
42150 @samp{lp_count} and @samp{pcl}. This feature may contain register @samp{ilink}
42151 and any of extension core registers @samp{r32} through @samp{r59/acch}.
42152 @samp{ilink} and extension core registers are not available to read/write, when
42153 debugging GNU/Linux applications, thus @samp{ilink} is made optional.
42155 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arc.core-reduced.v2} feature is required for ARC EM and
42156 ARC HS targets with a reduced register file. It should contain registers
42157 @samp{r0} through @samp{r3}, @samp{r10} through @samp{r15}, @samp{gp},
42158 @samp{fp}, @samp{sp}, @samp{r30}, @samp{blink}, @samp{lp_count} and @samp{pcl}.
42159 This feature may contain register @samp{ilink} and any of extension core
42160 registers @samp{r32} through @samp{r59/acch}.
42162 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arc.core.arcompact} feature is required for ARCompact
42163 targets with a normal register file. It should contain registers @samp{r0}
42164 through @samp{r25}, @samp{gp}, @samp{fp}, @samp{sp}, @samp{r30}, @samp{blink},
42165 @samp{lp_count} and @samp{pcl}. This feature may contain registers
42166 @samp{ilink1}, @samp{ilink2} and any of extension core registers @samp{r32}
42167 through @samp{r59/acch}. @samp{ilink1} and @samp{ilink2} and extension core
42168 registers are not available when debugging GNU/Linux applications. The only
42169 difference with @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arc.core.v2} feature is in the names of
42170 @samp{ilink1} and @samp{ilink2} registers and that @samp{r30} is mandatory in
42171 ARC v2, but @samp{ilink2} is optional on ARCompact.
42173 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arc.aux-minimal} feature is required for all ARC
42174 targets. It should contain registers @samp{pc} and @samp{status32}.
42177 @subsection ARM Features
42178 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
42180 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
42182 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
42183 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
42185 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
42186 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
42187 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
42190 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
42191 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
42193 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
42194 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
42195 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
42196 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
42198 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
42199 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
42200 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
42201 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
42202 halves of the double-precision registers.
42204 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
42205 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
42206 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
42207 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
42208 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
42209 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
42211 @node i386 Features
42212 @subsection i386 Features
42213 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
42215 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
42216 targets. It should describe the following registers:
42220 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
42222 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
42224 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
42225 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
42227 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
42229 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
42230 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
42233 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
42235 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
42236 describe registers:
42240 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
42242 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
42247 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
42248 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
42249 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
42253 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
42255 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
42258 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.mpx} is an optional feature representing Intel
42259 Memory Protection Extension (MPX). It should describe the following registers:
42263 @samp{bnd0raw} through @samp{bnd3raw} for i386 and amd64.
42265 @samp{bndcfgu} and @samp{bndstatus} for i386 and amd64.
42268 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
42269 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
42271 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.segments} feature is optional. It should
42272 describe two system registers: @samp{fs_base} and @samp{gs_base}.
42274 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx512} feature is optional and requires the
42275 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature. It should
42276 describe additional @sc{xmm} registers:
42280 @samp{xmm16h} through @samp{xmm31h}, only valid for amd64.
42283 It should describe the upper 128 bits of additional @sc{ymm} registers:
42287 @samp{ymm16h} through @samp{ymm31h}, only valid for amd64.
42291 describe the upper 256 bits of @sc{zmm} registers:
42295 @samp{zmm0h} through @samp{zmm7h} for i386.
42297 @samp{zmm0h} through @samp{zmm15h} for amd64.
42301 describe the additional @sc{zmm} registers:
42305 @samp{zmm16h} through @samp{zmm31h}, only valid for amd64.
42308 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.pkeys} feature is optional. It should
42309 describe a single register, @samp{pkru}. It is a 32-bit register
42310 valid for i386 and amd64.
42312 @node MicroBlaze Features
42313 @subsection MicroBlaze Features
42314 @cindex target descriptions, MicroBlaze features
42316 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.microblaze.core} feature is required for MicroBlaze
42317 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
42318 @samp{rpc}, @samp{rmsr}, @samp{rear}, @samp{resr}, @samp{rfsr}, @samp{rbtr},
42319 @samp{rpvr}, @samp{rpvr1} through @samp{rpvr11}, @samp{redr}, @samp{rpid},
42320 @samp{rzpr}, @samp{rtlbx}, @samp{rtlbsx}, @samp{rtlblo}, and @samp{rtlbhi}.
42322 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.microblaze.stack-protect} feature is optional.
42323 If present, it should contain registers @samp{rshr} and @samp{rslr}
42325 @node MIPS Features
42326 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
42327 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
42329 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
42330 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
42331 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
42334 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
42335 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
42336 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42338 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
42339 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
42340 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
42341 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42343 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
42344 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
42345 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
42346 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42348 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
42349 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
42350 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
42352 @node M68K Features
42353 @subsection M68K Features
42354 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
42357 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
42358 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
42359 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
42360 One of those features must be always present.
42361 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
42362 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
42363 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
42364 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
42366 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
42367 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
42368 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
42372 @node NDS32 Features
42373 @subsection NDS32 Features
42374 @cindex target descriptions, NDS32 features
42376 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nds32.core} feature is required for NDS32
42377 targets. It should contain at least registers @samp{r0} through
42378 @samp{r10}, @samp{r15}, @samp{fp}, @samp{gp}, @samp{lp}, @samp{sp},
42381 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nds32.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
42382 it should contain 64-bit double-precision floating-point registers
42383 @samp{fd0} through @emph{fdN}, which should be @samp{fd3}, @samp{fd7},
42384 @samp{fd15}, or @samp{fd31} based on the FPU configuration implemented.
42386 @emph{Note:} The first sixteen 64-bit double-precision floating-point
42387 registers are overlapped with the thirty-two 32-bit single-precision
42388 floating-point registers. The 32-bit single-precision registers, if
42389 not being listed explicitly, will be synthesized from halves of the
42390 overlapping 64-bit double-precision registers. Listing 32-bit
42391 single-precision registers explicitly is deprecated, and the
42392 support to it could be totally removed some day.
42394 @node Nios II Features
42395 @subsection Nios II Features
42396 @cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
42398 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
42399 targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
42400 @samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
42401 @samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
42404 @node OpenRISC 1000 Features
42405 @subsection Openrisc 1000 Features
42406 @cindex target descriptions, OpenRISC 1000 features
42408 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.or1k.group0} feature is required for OpenRISC 1000
42409 targets. It should contain the 32 general purpose registers (@samp{r0}
42410 through @samp{r31}), @samp{ppc}, @samp{npc} and @samp{sr}.
42412 @node PowerPC Features
42413 @subsection PowerPC Features
42414 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
42416 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
42417 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
42418 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
42419 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42421 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
42422 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
42424 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
42425 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
42428 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
42429 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
42430 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
42431 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
42432 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
42433 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
42435 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
42436 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
42437 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
42438 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
42439 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
42440 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
42443 @node S/390 and System z Features
42444 @subsection S/390 and System z Features
42445 @cindex target descriptions, S/390 features
42446 @cindex target descriptions, System z features
42448 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.core} feature is required for S/390 and
42449 System z targets. It should contain the PSW and the 16 general
42450 registers. In particular, System z targets should provide the 64-bit
42451 registers @samp{pswm}, @samp{pswa}, and @samp{r0} through @samp{r15}.
42452 S/390 targets should provide the 32-bit versions of these registers.
42453 A System z target that runs in 31-bit addressing mode should provide
42454 32-bit versions of @samp{pswm} and @samp{pswa}, as well as the general
42455 register's upper halves @samp{r0h} through @samp{r15h}, and their
42456 lower halves @samp{r0l} through @samp{r15l}.
42458 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.fpr} feature is required. It should
42459 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f15}, and
42462 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.acr} feature is required. It should
42463 contain the 32-bit registers @samp{acr0} through @samp{acr15}.
42465 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.linux} feature is optional. It should
42466 contain the register @samp{orig_r2}, which is 64-bit wide on System z
42467 targets and 32-bit otherwise. In addition, the feature may contain
42468 the @samp{last_break} register, whose width depends on the addressing
42469 mode, as well as the @samp{system_call} register, which is always
42472 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.tdb} feature is optional. It should
42473 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{tdb0}, @samp{tac}, @samp{tct},
42474 @samp{atia}, and @samp{tr0} through @samp{tr15}.
42476 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.vx} feature is optional. It should contain
42477 64-bit wide registers @samp{v0l} through @samp{v15l}, which will be
42478 combined by @value{GDBN} with the floating point registers @samp{f0}
42479 through @samp{f15} to present the 128-bit wide vector registers
42480 @samp{v0} through @samp{v15}. In addition, this feature should
42481 contain the 128-bit wide vector registers @samp{v16} through
42484 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.gs} feature is optional. It should contain
42485 the 64-bit wide guarded-storage-control registers @samp{gsd},
42486 @samp{gssm}, and @samp{gsepla}.
42488 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.gsbc} feature is optional. It should contain
42489 the 64-bit wide guarded-storage broadcast control registers
42490 @samp{bc_gsd}, @samp{bc_gssm}, and @samp{bc_gsepla}.
42492 @node Sparc Features
42493 @subsection Sparc Features
42494 @cindex target descriptions, sparc32 features
42495 @cindex target descriptions, sparc64 features
42496 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.sparc.cpu} feature is required for sparc32/sparc64
42497 targets. It should describe the following registers:
42501 @samp{g0} through @samp{g7}
42503 @samp{o0} through @samp{o7}
42505 @samp{l0} through @samp{l7}
42507 @samp{i0} through @samp{i7}
42510 They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42512 Also the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.sparc.fpu} feature is required for sparc32/sparc64
42513 targets. It should describe the following registers:
42517 @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}
42519 @samp{f32} through @samp{f62} for sparc64
42522 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.sparc.cp0} feature is required for sparc32/sparc64
42523 targets. It should describe the following registers:
42527 @samp{y}, @samp{psr}, @samp{wim}, @samp{tbr}, @samp{pc}, @samp{npc},
42528 @samp{fsr}, and @samp{csr} for sparc32
42530 @samp{pc}, @samp{npc}, @samp{state}, @samp{fsr}, @samp{fprs}, and @samp{y}
42534 @node TIC6x Features
42535 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
42536 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
42537 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
42538 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
42539 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
42540 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
42542 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
42543 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
42544 through @samp{B31}.
42546 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
42547 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
42549 @node Operating System Information
42550 @appendix Operating System Information
42551 @cindex operating system information
42557 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
42558 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
42559 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
42560 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
42561 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
42562 on a different aspect of target.
42564 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
42565 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
42566 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
42567 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
42570 @appendixsection Process list
42571 @cindex operating system information, process list
42573 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
42574 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
42575 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
42576 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
42578 An example document is:
42581 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42582 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
42583 <osdata type="processes">
42585 <column name="pid">1</column>
42586 <column name="user">root</column>
42587 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
42588 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
42593 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
42594 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
42595 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
42596 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
42597 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
42598 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
42599 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
42601 @node Trace File Format
42602 @appendix Trace File Format
42603 @cindex trace file format
42605 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
42606 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
42608 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
42609 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
42610 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
42613 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
42614 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
42615 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
42616 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
42617 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
42622 Specifies the size of a register block in bytes. This is equal to the
42623 size of a @code{g} packet payload in the remote protocol. @var{size}
42624 is an ascii decimal number. There should be only one such line in
42625 a single trace file.
42627 @item status @var{status}
42628 Trace status. @var{status} has the same format as a @code{qTStatus}
42629 remote packet reply. There should be only one such line in a single trace
42632 @item tp @var{payload}
42633 Tracepoint definition. The @var{payload} has the same format as
42634 @code{qTfP}/@code{qTsP} remote packet reply payload. A single tracepoint
42635 may take multiple lines of definition, corresponding to the multiple
42638 @item tsv @var{payload}
42639 Trace state variable definition. The @var{payload} has the same format as
42640 @code{qTfV}/@code{qTsV} remote packet reply payload. A single variable
42641 may take multiple lines of definition, corresponding to the multiple
42644 @item tdesc @var{payload}
42645 Target description in XML format. The @var{payload} is a single line of
42646 the XML file. All such lines should be concatenated together to get
42647 the original XML file. This file is in the same format as @code{qXfer}
42648 @code{features} payload, and corresponds to the main @code{target.xml}
42649 file. Includes are not allowed.
42653 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
42654 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
42655 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
42656 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
42657 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
42658 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
42659 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
42662 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
42665 @item R @var{bytes}
42666 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
42667 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
42668 actual bytes, in target order, not a hexadecimal encoding.
42670 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
42671 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
42672 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
42673 @var{length} bytes.
42675 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
42676 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
42677 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
42681 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
42684 @node Index Section Format
42685 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
42686 @cindex .gdb_index section format
42687 @cindex index section format
42689 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
42690 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
42691 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
42694 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
42695 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
42696 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
42697 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
42698 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
42699 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
42701 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
42705 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
42706 unless otherwise noted:
42710 The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
42711 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
42712 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
42713 and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
42714 symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
42715 (@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
42716 compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
42718 @value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
42719 by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
42720 GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
42721 currently not flagged as deprecated.
42724 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
42727 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
42728 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
42729 to the next offset.
42732 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
42735 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
42738 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
42742 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
42743 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
42744 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
42745 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
42746 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
42747 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
42748 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
42752 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
42753 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
42754 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
42755 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
42758 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
42759 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
42763 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
42766 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
42767 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
42770 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
42774 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
42775 the hash table is always a power of 2.
42777 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
42778 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
42779 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
42782 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
42783 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
42784 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
42786 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
42787 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
42788 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
42789 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
42794 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
42796 @item Versions 5 to 7
42797 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
42800 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
42802 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
42803 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
42804 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
42805 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
42808 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
42809 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
42810 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
42814 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
42815 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
42818 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
42819 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
42820 Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
42821 the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
42822 CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
42823 See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
42825 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
42828 Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
42829 If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
42830 CU index+attributes value for each use.
42832 The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
42838 This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
42840 These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
42842 The kind of the symbol in the CU.
42846 This value is reserved and should not be used.
42847 By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
42848 with previous versions of the index.
42850 The symbol is a type.
42852 The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
42854 The symbol is a function.
42856 Any other kind of symbol.
42858 These values are reserved.
42862 This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
42864 The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
42865 The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
42866 @value{GDBN} sources.
42870 This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
42871 global/static attributes in the index.
42874 is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
42875 language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
42878 case DW_TAG_typedef:
42879 case DW_TAG_base_type:
42880 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
42884 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
42886 is_static = language != CPLUS;
42888 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
42890 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
42892 case DW_TAG_constant:
42894 is_static = ! is_external;
42896 case DW_TAG_variable:
42898 is_static = ! is_external;
42900 case DW_TAG_namespace:
42904 case DW_TAG_class_type:
42905 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
42906 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
42907 case DW_TAG_union_type:
42908 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
42910 is_static = language != CPLUS;
42918 @appendix Manual pages
42922 * gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
42923 * gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
42924 * gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
42925 * gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
42926 * gdb-add-index man:: Add index files to speed up GDB
42932 @c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
42934 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
42935 gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
42936 [@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
42937 [@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
42938 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
42939 [@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
42940 [@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
42941 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
42942 [@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
42945 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
42946 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
42947 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
42948 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
42950 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
42951 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
42955 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
42958 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
42961 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
42964 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
42965 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
42968 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
42971 @value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
42972 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
42973 command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
42974 by using the command @code{help}.
42976 You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
42977 usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
42978 executable program as the argument:
42984 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
42990 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
42991 to debug a running process:
42999 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
43000 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
43001 With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
43003 Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
43005 @c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
43007 @item break [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43008 Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
43010 @item run [@var{arglist}]
43011 Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
43014 Backtrace: display the program stack.
43016 @item print @var{expr}
43017 Display the value of an expression.
43020 Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
43023 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
43024 function calls in the line.
43026 @item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43027 look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
43029 @item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43030 type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
43033 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
43034 function calls in the line.
43036 @item help [@var{name}]
43037 Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
43038 about using @value{GDBN}.
43041 Exit from @value{GDBN}.
43045 For full details on @value{GDBN},
43046 see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43047 by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
43048 as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
43052 @c man begin OPTIONS gdb
43053 Any arguments other than options specify an executable
43054 file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
43055 encountered with no
43056 associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
43057 if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
43059 both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
43060 recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
43061 present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
43062 arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
43063 more usual convention.)
43065 All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
43066 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
43072 List all options, with brief explanations.
43074 @item -symbols=@var{file}
43075 @itemx -s @var{file}
43076 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
43079 Enable writing into executable and core files.
43081 @item -exec=@var{file}
43082 @itemx -e @var{file}
43083 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
43084 appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
43087 @item -se=@var{file}
43088 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
43091 @item -core=@var{file}
43092 @itemx -c @var{file}
43093 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
43095 @item -command=@var{file}
43096 @itemx -x @var{file}
43097 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
43099 @item -ex @var{command}
43100 Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
43102 @item -directory=@var{directory}
43103 @itemx -d @var{directory}
43104 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
43107 Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
43111 Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
43115 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
43116 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
43119 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
43120 files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
43121 Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
43122 commands in the command files.
43124 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
43125 download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
43126 more useful, the message
43129 Program exited normally.
43133 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
43134 terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
43136 @item -cd=@var{directory}
43137 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
43138 instead of the current directory.
43142 Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
43143 @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
43144 recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
43145 includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
43146 like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
43147 and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
43148 Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
43149 characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
43152 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
43153 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
43155 @item -tty=@var{device}
43156 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
43160 @c man begin SEEALSO gdb
43162 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43163 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43164 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43171 should give you access to the complete manual.
43173 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43174 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43178 @node gdbserver man
43179 @heading gdbserver man
43181 @c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
43183 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
43184 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43186 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43188 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43192 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
43193 @command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
43194 than the one which is running the program being debugged.
43197 @subheading Usage (server (target) side)
43200 Usage (server (target) side):
43203 First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
43204 the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
43205 @command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
43206 the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
43208 To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
43209 program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
43210 your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
43213 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
43216 For example, using a serial port, you might say:
43220 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
43221 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
43224 target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
43228 This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
43229 to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
43230 waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
43232 To use a TCP connection, you could say:
43235 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
43238 This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
43239 going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
43240 that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
43241 2345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
43242 want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
43243 ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
43244 @value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
43245 you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
43246 print an error message and exit.
43248 @command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
43249 This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
43252 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43255 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43256 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43258 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43259 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
43260 In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
43261 the program you want to debug.
43264 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43268 @subheading Usage (host side)
43274 You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
43275 @value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
43276 would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
43277 @option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
43278 That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
43279 new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
43280 (or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
43281 a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
43282 descriptor. For example:
43286 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
43287 (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
43290 (gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
43295 communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
43298 (gdb) target remote the-target:2345
43302 communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
43303 you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
43304 TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
43305 command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
43306 `Connection refused'.
43308 @command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
43311 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
43312 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
43315 @ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
43317 In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
43320 (gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
43323 The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
43327 @c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
43328 There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
43333 Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
43336 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43339 The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
43340 with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
43341 a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
43342 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
43343 debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
43344 program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
43345 connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
43348 Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
43352 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43355 The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
43356 of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
43357 else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
43358 @value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
43361 Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
43364 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43367 In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
43368 command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
43369 close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
43370 debug several processes in the same session.
43373 In each of the modes you may specify these options:
43378 List all options, with brief explanations.
43381 This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
43384 @command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
43387 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43390 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43391 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43394 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43395 or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
43396 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
43397 the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
43400 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43404 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
43406 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
43409 @item --remote-debug
43410 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
43411 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
43414 @item --debug-format=option1@r{[},option2,...@r{]}
43415 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to include extra information in each line
43416 of debugging output.
43417 @xref{Other Command-Line Arguments for gdbserver}.
43420 Specify a wrapper to launch programs
43421 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
43422 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
43423 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
43426 By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
43427 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
43428 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
43429 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
43431 @c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
43433 @c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
43434 @c QDisableRandomization.
43439 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
43441 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43442 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43443 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43449 should give you access to the complete manual.
43451 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43452 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43459 @c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
43462 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
43463 gcore [-a] [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
43467 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
43468 Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
43469 Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
43470 crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
43471 limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
43472 running without any change.
43475 @c man begin OPTIONS gcore
43478 Dump all memory mappings. The actual effect of this option depends on
43479 the Operating System. On @sc{gnu}/Linux, it will disable
43480 @code{use-coredump-filter} (@pxref{set use-coredump-filter}) and
43481 enable @code{dump-excluded-mappings} (@pxref{set
43482 dump-excluded-mappings}).
43484 @item -o @var{filename}
43485 The optional argument
43486 @var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
43487 If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
43488 where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
43492 @c man begin SEEALSO gcore
43494 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43495 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43496 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43503 should give you access to the complete manual.
43505 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43506 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43513 @c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
43516 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
43517 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43518 @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
43527 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
43528 These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
43529 @value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
43532 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
43533 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
43539 Please read more in
43541 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
43542 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
43549 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43550 @item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
43552 @ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43553 @item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
43555 System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
43556 @value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
43559 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
43560 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
43563 @ref{System-wide configuration}.
43567 User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
43568 @value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
43571 Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
43572 @value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
43575 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
43576 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
43579 @ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
43584 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
43586 gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
43588 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43589 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43590 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43596 should give you access to the complete manual.
43598 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43599 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43603 @node gdb-add-index man
43604 @heading gdb-add-index
43605 @pindex gdb-add-index
43606 @anchor{gdb-add-index}
43608 @c man title gdb-add-index Add index files to speed up GDB
43610 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb-add-index
43611 gdb-add-index @var{filename}
43614 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb-add-index
43615 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
43616 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
43617 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly--at the cost of a delay early on.
43618 For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so @value{GDBN}
43619 provides a way to build an index, which speeds up startup.
43621 To determine whether a file contains such an index, use the command
43622 @kbd{readelf -S filename}: the index is stored in a section named
43623 @code{.gdb_index}. The index file can only be produced on systems
43624 which use ELF binaries and DWARF debug information (i.e., sections
43625 named @code{.debug_*}).
43627 @command{gdb-add-index} uses @value{GDBN} and @command{objdump} found
43628 in the @env{PATH} environment variable. If you want to use different
43629 versions of these programs, you can specify them through the
43630 @env{GDB} and @env{OBJDUMP} environment variables.
43634 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Index Files}
43635 -- shell command @kbd{info -f gdb -n "Index Files"}.
43642 @c man begin SEEALSO gdb-add-index
43644 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43645 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43646 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43652 should give you access to the complete manual.
43654 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43655 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43661 @node GNU Free Documentation License
43662 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
43665 @node Concept Index
43666 @unnumbered Concept Index
43670 @node Command and Variable Index
43671 @unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
43676 % I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
43678 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
43679 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
43680 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
43681 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
43682 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
43683 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
43684 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
43685 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
43686 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
43688 % Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.