Install and generate docs for gdb-add-index

[external/binutils.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo

diff --git a/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo b/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo
index dba2fa7..b6e7a49 100644 (file)
--- a/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo
+++ b/gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo
@@ -19712,6 +19712,19 @@ on.  For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
 startup.
 
+For convenience, @value{GDBN} comes with a program,
+@command{gdb-add-index}, which can be used to add the index to a
+symbol file.  It takes the symbol file as its only argument:
+
+@smallexample
+$ gdb-add-index symfile
+@end smallexample
+
+@xref{gdb-add-index}.
+
+It is also possible to do the work manually.  Here is what
+@command{gdb-add-index} does behind the curtains.
+
 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file.  @value{GDBN} can
 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
 using @command{objcopy}.
@@ -42750,6 +42763,7 @@ switch (die->tag)
 * gdbserver man::               Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
 * gcore man::                   Generate a core file of a running program
 * gdbinit man::                 gdbinit scripts
+* gdb-add-index man::           Add index files to speed up GDB
 @end menu
 
 @node gdb man
@@ -43426,6 +43440,62 @@ Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
 @end ifset
 @c man end
 
+@node gdb-add-index man
+@pindex gdb-add-index
+@anchor{gdb-add-index}
+@heading gdb-add-index
+
+@c man title gdb-add-index Add index files to speed up GDB
+
+@c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb-add-index
+gdb-add-index @var{filename}
+@c man end
+
+@c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb-add-index
+When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
+file in order to construct an internal symbol table.  This lets most
+@value{GDBN} operations work quickly--at the cost of a delay early on.
+For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so @value{GDBN}
+provides a way to build an index, which speeds up startup.
+
+To determine whether a file contains such an index, use the command
+@kbd{readelf -S filename}: the index is stored in a section named
+@code{.gdb_index}.  The index file can only be produced on systems
+which use ELF binaries and DWARF debug information (i.e., sections
+named @code{.debug_*}).
+
+@command{gdb-add-index} uses @value{GDBN} and @command{objdump} found
+in the @env{PATH} environment variable.  If you want to use different
+versions of these programs, you can specify them through the
+@env{GDB} and @env{OBJDUMP} environment variables.
+
+See more in
+@ifset man
+the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Index Files}
+-- shell command @kbd{info -f gdb -n "Index Files"}.
+@end ifset
+@ifclear man
+@ref{Index Files}.
+@end ifclear
+@c man end
+
+@c man begin SEEALSO gdb-add-index
+@ifset man
+The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
+If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
+documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
+
+@smallexample
+info gdb
+@end smallexample
+
+should give you access to the complete manual.
+
+@cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
+Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
+@end ifset
+@c man end
+
 @include gpl.texi
 
 @node GNU Free Documentation License