1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
23 @c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
24 @c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
25 @c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
26 @c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
30 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
31 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
34 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
35 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
38 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
41 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
43 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
44 @c manuals to an info tree.
45 @dircategory Software development
47 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
48 * gdbserver: (gdb) Server. The GNU debugging server.
52 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
53 Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2013 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) 1988-2013 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.
545 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
547 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
548 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
549 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
552 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
553 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
556 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
557 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
559 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
560 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
561 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
562 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
563 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
564 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
565 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
566 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
567 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
576 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
580 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
582 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
585 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
589 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
592 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
593 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
594 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
595 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
596 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
598 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
601 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
606 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
607 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
608 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
609 that examples fit in this manual.
612 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
616 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
617 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
618 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
619 @code{break} command.
622 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
623 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
627 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
628 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
629 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
632 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
633 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
641 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
642 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
643 context where it stops.
646 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
648 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
650 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
654 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
655 the next line of the current function.
659 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
664 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
665 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
666 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
667 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
671 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
673 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
677 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
678 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
679 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
680 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
681 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
682 stack frame for each active subroutine.
685 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
686 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
688 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
690 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
691 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
693 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
694 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
698 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
699 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
700 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
704 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
706 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
707 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
709 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
712 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
716 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
717 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
718 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
719 (@code{print}) to see their values.
722 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
723 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
724 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
725 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
729 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
730 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
731 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
737 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
739 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
742 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
743 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
750 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
751 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
755 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
758 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
760 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
765 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
766 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
767 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
768 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
769 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
773 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
775 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
780 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
781 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
782 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
783 example that caused trouble initially:
789 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
796 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
797 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
798 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
802 Program exited normally.
806 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
807 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
808 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
811 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
815 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
817 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
821 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
823 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
827 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
828 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
829 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
830 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
834 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
836 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
837 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
839 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
840 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
842 The command-line options described here are designed
843 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
844 options may effectively be unavailable.
846 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
847 specifying an executable program:
850 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
854 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
858 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
861 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
862 to debug a running process:
865 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
869 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
870 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
872 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
873 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
874 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
875 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
876 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
878 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
879 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
882 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
884 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
885 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
887 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
888 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
895 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
896 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
906 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
907 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
909 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
910 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
911 @samp{-x} option is used.
915 * File Options:: Choosing files
916 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
917 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
921 @subsection Choosing Files
923 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
924 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
925 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
926 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
927 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
928 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
929 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
930 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
931 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
932 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
933 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
934 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
935 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
937 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
938 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
939 argument and ignore it.
941 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
942 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
943 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
944 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
945 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
947 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
948 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
952 @item -symbols @var{file}
954 @cindex @code{--symbols}
956 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
958 @item -exec @var{file}
960 @cindex @code{--exec}
962 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
963 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
967 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
970 @item -core @var{file}
972 @cindex @code{--core}
974 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
976 @item -pid @var{number}
977 @itemx -p @var{number}
980 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
982 @item -command @var{file}
984 @cindex @code{--command}
986 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
987 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
988 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
990 @item -eval-command @var{command}
991 @itemx -ex @var{command}
992 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
994 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
996 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
997 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
1000 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1001 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1004 @item -init-command @var{file}
1005 @itemx -ix @var{file}
1006 @cindex @code{--init-command}
1008 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1009 after loading gdbinit files).
1012 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1013 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1014 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1016 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1017 after loading gdbinit files).
1020 @item -directory @var{directory}
1021 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1022 @cindex @code{--directory}
1024 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1028 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1030 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1031 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1032 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1037 @subsection Choosing Modes
1039 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1040 batch mode or quiet mode.
1048 Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1049 There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1052 @item @file{system.gdbinit}
1053 This is the system-wide init file.
1054 Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1055 configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1056 It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1057 have been processed.
1058 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1059 This is the init file in your home directory.
1060 It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1061 command options have been processed.
1062 @item @file{./.gdbinit}
1063 This is the init file in the current directory.
1064 It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1065 @code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1066 @code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1069 For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1070 For documentation on how to write command files,
1071 @xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1076 Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1077 in your home directory.
1083 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1084 @cindex @code{--silent}
1086 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1087 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1090 @cindex @code{--batch}
1091 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1092 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1093 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1094 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1095 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1096 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1097 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1099 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1100 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1101 make this more useful, the message
1104 Program exited normally.
1108 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1109 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1113 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1114 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1115 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1116 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1117 for an interactive session.
1119 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1120 messages, for example.
1122 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1123 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1125 @item -return-child-result
1126 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1127 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1128 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1132 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1133 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1134 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1136 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1138 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1139 the exit code will be -1.
1142 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1143 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1148 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1150 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1151 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1152 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1156 @cindex @code{--windows}
1158 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1161 @item -cd @var{directory}
1163 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1164 instead of the current directory.
1166 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1167 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1168 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1169 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1170 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1174 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1176 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1177 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1178 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1179 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1180 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1181 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1182 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1183 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1186 @item -annotate @var{level}
1187 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1188 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1189 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1190 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1191 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1192 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1193 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1194 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1195 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1197 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1201 @cindex @code{--args}
1202 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1203 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1204 This option stops option processing.
1206 @item -baud @var{bps}
1208 @cindex @code{--baud}
1210 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1211 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1213 @item -l @var{timeout}
1215 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1216 for remote debugging.
1218 @item -tty @var{device}
1219 @itemx -t @var{device}
1220 @cindex @code{--tty}
1222 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1223 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1225 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1227 @cindex @code{--tui}
1228 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1229 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1230 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1231 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1232 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1233 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1236 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1237 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1238 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1239 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1242 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1243 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1244 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1245 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1246 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1247 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1249 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1250 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1251 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1252 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1253 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1254 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1257 @cindex @code{--write}
1258 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1259 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1263 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1264 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1265 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1268 @cindex @code{--version}
1269 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1270 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1272 @item -configuration
1273 @cindex @code{--configuration}
1274 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1275 configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1276 important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1281 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1282 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1284 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1288 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1289 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1293 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1294 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1295 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1298 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1300 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1301 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1302 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1305 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1307 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1308 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1309 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1310 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1314 Processes command line options and operands.
1316 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1318 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1319 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1320 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1321 This is only done if the current directory is
1322 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1323 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1324 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1328 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1329 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1330 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1331 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1333 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1334 you must do something like the following:
1337 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1340 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1344 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1345 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1346 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1349 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1350 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1351 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1354 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1355 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1356 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1357 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1358 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1359 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1361 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1362 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1364 @cindex init file name
1365 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1366 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1367 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1368 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1369 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1370 port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1371 @file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1372 and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1376 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1377 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1378 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1381 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1382 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1383 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1385 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1386 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1387 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1388 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1393 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1394 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1395 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1396 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1397 until a time when it is safe.
1399 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1400 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1401 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1403 @node Shell Commands
1404 @section Shell Commands
1406 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1407 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1408 just use the @code{shell} command.
1413 @cindex shell escape
1414 @item shell @var{command-string}
1415 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1416 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1417 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1418 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1419 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1420 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1423 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1424 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1429 @cindex calling make
1430 @item make @var{make-args}
1431 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1432 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1435 @node Logging Output
1436 @section Logging Output
1437 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1438 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1440 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1441 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1445 @item set logging on
1447 @item set logging off
1449 @cindex logging file name
1450 @item set logging file @var{file}
1451 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1452 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1453 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1454 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1455 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1456 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1457 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1458 @kindex show logging
1460 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1464 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1466 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1467 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1468 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1469 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1470 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1473 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1474 * Completion:: Command completion
1475 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1478 @node Command Syntax
1479 @section Command Syntax
1481 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1482 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1483 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1484 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1485 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1486 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1488 @cindex abbreviation
1489 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1490 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1491 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1492 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1493 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1494 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1495 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1497 @cindex repeating commands
1498 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1499 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1500 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1501 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1502 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1503 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1504 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1506 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1507 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1508 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1510 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1511 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1512 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1513 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1514 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1516 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1518 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1519 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1520 Files,,Command Files}).
1522 @cindex repeating command sequences
1523 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1524 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1525 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1526 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1530 @section Command Completion
1533 @cindex word completion
1534 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1535 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1536 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1537 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1539 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1540 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1541 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1542 enter it). For example, if you type
1544 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1545 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1546 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1547 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1549 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1553 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1554 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1557 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1561 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1562 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1563 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1564 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1565 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1566 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1568 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1569 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1570 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1571 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1572 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1573 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1574 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1575 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1579 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1580 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1581 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1582 make_abs_section make_function_type
1583 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1584 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1585 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1586 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1590 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1591 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1594 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1595 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1596 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1597 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1598 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1600 @cindex quotes in commands
1601 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1602 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1603 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1604 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1605 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1606 @value{GDBN} commands.
1608 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1609 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1610 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1611 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1612 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1613 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1614 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1615 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1616 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1617 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1618 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1621 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1622 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1623 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1626 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1627 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1628 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1632 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1633 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1634 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1638 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1639 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1640 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1642 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1643 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1644 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1645 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1647 @cindex completion of structure field names
1648 @cindex structure field name completion
1649 @cindex completion of union field names
1650 @cindex union field name completion
1651 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1652 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1653 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1654 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1655 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1659 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1660 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1661 to_data to_isatty to_write
1662 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1667 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1668 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1675 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1676 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1677 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1678 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1679 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1680 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1681 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1682 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1683 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1690 @section Getting Help
1691 @cindex online documentation
1694 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1695 using the command @code{help}.
1698 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1701 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1702 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1706 List of classes of commands:
1708 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1709 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1710 data -- Examining data
1711 files -- Specifying and examining files
1712 internals -- Maintenance commands
1713 obscure -- Obscure features
1714 running -- Running the program
1715 stack -- Examining the stack
1716 status -- Status inquiries
1717 support -- Support facilities
1718 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1719 stopping the program
1720 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1722 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1723 commands in that class.
1724 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1726 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1729 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1731 @item help @var{class}
1732 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1733 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1734 help display for the class @code{status}:
1737 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1742 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1743 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1744 info -- Generic command for showing things
1745 about the program being debugged
1746 show -- Generic command for showing things
1749 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1751 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1755 @item help @var{command}
1756 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1757 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1760 @item apropos @var{args}
1761 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1762 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1763 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1774 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1775 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1776 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1777 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1778 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1783 @item complete @var{args}
1784 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1785 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1786 command you want completed. For example:
1792 @noindent results in:
1803 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1806 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1807 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1808 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1809 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1810 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1811 Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1817 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1819 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1820 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1821 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1822 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1823 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1824 @w{@code{help info}}.
1828 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1829 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1830 @code{set prompt $}.
1834 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1835 @value{GDBN} itself.
1836 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1837 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1838 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1839 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1842 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1843 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1844 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1845 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1846 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1847 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1851 Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1852 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1855 @kindex show version
1856 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1858 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1859 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1860 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1861 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1862 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1863 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1864 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1865 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1868 @kindex show copying
1869 @kindex info copying
1870 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1873 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1875 @kindex show warranty
1876 @kindex info warranty
1878 @itemx info warranty
1879 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1880 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1882 @kindex show configuration
1883 @item show configuration
1884 Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1885 when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1886 @file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1887 automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1888 bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1894 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1896 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1897 debugging information when you compile it.
1899 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1900 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1901 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1902 kill a child process.
1905 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1906 * Starting:: Starting your program
1907 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1908 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1910 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1911 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1912 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1913 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1915 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1916 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1917 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1918 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1922 @section Compiling for Debugging
1924 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1925 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1926 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1927 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1928 and addresses in the executable code.
1930 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1933 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1934 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1935 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1936 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1937 executables containing debugging information.
1939 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1940 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1941 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1942 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1943 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1945 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1946 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1947 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1949 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1950 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1951 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1952 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1953 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1954 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1956 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1957 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1958 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1960 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1961 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1962 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1963 format in @value{GDBN}.
1967 @section Starting your Program
1973 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1976 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1977 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1978 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1979 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1980 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1984 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1985 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1986 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1987 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1988 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1989 message like this one:
1992 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1993 Try "help target" or "continue".
1997 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1998 first (@pxref{load}).
2000 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2001 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2002 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2003 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2004 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2005 divided into four categories:
2008 @item The @emph{arguments.}
2009 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2010 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2011 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2012 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2014 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2015 @code{SHELL} environment variable. If you do not define @code{SHELL},
2016 @value{GDBN} uses the default shell (@file{/bin/sh}). You can disable
2017 use of any shell with the @code{set startup-with-shell} command (see
2020 @item The @emph{environment.}
2021 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2022 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2023 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2024 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2026 @item The @emph{working directory.}
2027 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2028 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2029 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2031 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2032 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2033 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2034 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2035 set a different device for your program.
2036 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2039 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2040 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2041 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2045 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2046 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2047 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2048 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2049 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2051 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2052 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2053 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2054 your current breakpoints.
2059 @cindex run to main procedure
2060 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2061 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2062 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2063 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2064 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2065 procedure, depending on the language used.
2067 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2068 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2069 the @samp{run} command.
2071 @cindex elaboration phase
2072 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2073 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2074 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2075 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2076 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2077 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2078 will remain to halt execution.
2080 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2081 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2082 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2083 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2084 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2086 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2087 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2088 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2089 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2090 elaboration code before running your program.
2092 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2093 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2094 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2095 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2096 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2097 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2098 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2099 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2100 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2101 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2102 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2104 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2105 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2106 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2107 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2109 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2110 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2114 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2118 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2119 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2121 @kindex set startup-with-shell
2122 @item set startup-with-shell
2123 @itemx set startup-with-shell on
2124 @itemx set startup-with-shell off
2125 @itemx show set startup-with-shell
2126 On Unix systems, by default, if a shell is available on your target,
2127 @value{GDBN}) uses it to start your program. Arguments of the
2128 @code{run} command are passed to the shell, which does variable
2129 substitution, expands wildcard characters and performs redirection of
2130 I/O. In some circumstances, it may be useful to disable such use of a
2131 shell, for example, when debugging the shell itself or diagnosing
2132 startup failures such as:
2136 Starting program: ./a.out
2137 During startup program terminated with signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
2141 which indicates the shell or the wrapper specified with
2142 @samp{exec-wrapper} crashed, not your program. Most often, this is
2143 caused by something odd in your shell's non-interactive mode
2144 initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell,
2145 $@file{.zshenv} for the Z shell, or the file specified in the
2146 @samp{BASH_ENV} environment variable for BASH.
2148 @kindex set disable-randomization
2149 @item set disable-randomization
2150 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2151 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2152 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2153 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2154 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2156 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2157 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2160 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2163 @item set disable-randomization off
2164 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2165 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2166 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2167 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2168 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2169 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2171 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2172 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2173 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2174 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2175 a code at its expected addresses.
2177 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2178 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2179 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2180 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2181 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2182 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2183 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2184 a randomly chosen address.
2186 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2187 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2188 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2189 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2190 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2192 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2193 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2195 @item show disable-randomization
2196 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2197 the virtual address space of the started program.
2202 @section Your Program's Arguments
2204 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2205 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2207 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2208 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2209 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2210 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2211 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2213 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2214 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2215 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2216 the program, not by the shell.
2218 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2219 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2224 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2225 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2226 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2227 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2228 it again without arguments.
2232 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2236 @section Your Program's Environment
2238 @cindex environment (of your program)
2239 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2240 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2241 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2242 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2243 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2244 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2245 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2249 @item path @var{directory}
2250 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2251 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2252 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2253 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2254 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2255 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2256 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2258 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2259 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2260 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2261 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2262 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2263 @var{directory} to the search path.
2264 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2265 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2269 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2270 environment variable).
2272 @kindex show environment
2273 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2274 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2275 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2276 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2277 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2279 @kindex set environment
2280 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2281 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2282 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2283 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2284 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2285 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2287 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2288 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2290 For example, this command:
2297 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2298 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2299 are not actually required.)
2301 @kindex unset environment
2302 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2303 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2304 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2305 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2306 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2309 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2310 the shell indicated by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it
2311 exists (or @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable
2312 names a shell that runs an initialization file when started
2313 non-interactively---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, $@file{.zshenv}
2314 for the Z shell, or the file specified in the @samp{BASH_ENV}
2315 environment variable for BASH---any variables you set in that file
2316 affect your program. You may wish to move setting of environment
2317 variables to files that are only run when you sign on, such as
2318 @file{.login} or @file{.profile}.
2320 @node Working Directory
2321 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2323 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2324 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2325 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2326 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2327 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2328 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2330 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2331 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2336 @cindex change working directory
2337 @item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2338 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2339 given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2343 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2346 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2347 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2348 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2349 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2350 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2351 current working directory of the debuggee.
2354 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2359 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2360 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2361 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2362 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2363 running your program.
2366 @kindex info terminal
2368 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2372 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2373 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2380 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2383 @cindex controlling terminal
2384 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2385 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2386 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2387 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2388 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2395 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2396 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2397 that as their controlling terminal.
2399 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2400 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2403 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2404 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2405 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2406 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2408 @cindex inferior tty
2409 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2410 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2411 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2415 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2416 @kindex set inferior-tty
2417 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2419 @item show inferior-tty
2420 @kindex show inferior-tty
2421 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2425 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2430 @item attach @var{process-id}
2431 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2432 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2433 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2434 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2435 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2437 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2438 executing the command.
2441 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2442 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2443 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2444 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2446 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2447 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2448 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2449 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2450 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2453 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2454 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2455 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2456 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2457 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2458 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2459 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2464 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2465 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2466 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2467 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2468 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2469 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2470 executing the command.
2473 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2474 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2475 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2476 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2477 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2481 @section Killing the Child Process
2486 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2489 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2490 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2493 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2494 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2495 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2496 outside the debugger.
2498 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2499 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2500 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2501 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2502 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2503 breakpoint settings).
2505 @node Inferiors and Programs
2506 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2508 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2509 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2510 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2511 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2512 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2513 from multiple executables.
2516 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2517 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2518 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2519 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2520 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2521 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2522 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2523 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2524 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2525 threads running in it.
2527 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2531 @kindex info inferiors
2532 @item info inferiors
2533 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2535 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2539 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2542 the target system's inferior identifier
2545 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2550 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2551 indicates the current inferior.
2555 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2558 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2559 Num Description Executable
2560 2 process 2307 hello
2561 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2564 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2567 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2568 @item inferior @var{infno}
2569 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2570 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2571 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2575 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2576 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2577 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2578 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2579 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2580 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2583 @kindex add-inferior
2584 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2585 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2586 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2587 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2588 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2589 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2591 @kindex clone-inferior
2592 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2593 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2594 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2595 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2596 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2599 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2600 Num Description Executable
2601 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2602 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2605 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2606 Num Description Executable
2608 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2611 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2613 @kindex remove-inferiors
2614 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2615 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2616 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2617 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2621 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2622 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2623 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2624 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2627 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2628 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2629 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2630 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2631 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2632 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2634 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2635 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2636 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2637 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2638 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2639 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2642 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2643 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2644 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2645 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2648 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2649 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2652 @kindex set print inferior-events
2653 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2654 @item set print inferior-events
2655 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2656 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2657 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2658 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2659 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2660 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2662 @kindex show print inferior-events
2663 @item show print inferior-events
2664 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2665 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2668 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2669 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2670 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2673 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2674 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2675 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2676 info program-spaces}} command.
2679 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2680 @item maint info program-spaces
2681 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2684 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2688 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2691 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2692 the @code{file} command.
2697 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2698 indicates the current program space.
2700 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2701 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2702 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2705 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2708 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2712 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2713 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2714 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2715 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2716 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2719 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2722 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2725 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2726 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2730 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2732 @cindex threads of execution
2733 @cindex multiple threads
2734 @cindex switching threads
2735 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2736 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2737 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2738 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2739 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2740 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2741 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2743 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2747 @item automatic notification of new threads
2748 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2749 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2750 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2751 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2752 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2753 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2754 messages on thread start and exit.
2755 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2756 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2757 isn't compatible with the program.
2761 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2762 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2763 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2764 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2765 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2769 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2770 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2771 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2772 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2774 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2775 @c doesn't support threads"?
2778 @cindex focus of debugging
2779 @cindex current thread
2780 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2781 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2782 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2783 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2784 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2786 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2787 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2788 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2789 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2790 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2791 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2792 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2793 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2794 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2795 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2798 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2802 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2803 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2806 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2807 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2808 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2810 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2811 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2812 @c threads ab initio?
2814 @cindex thread number
2815 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2816 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2817 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2820 @kindex info threads
2821 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2822 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2823 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2824 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2825 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2829 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2832 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2835 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2836 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2840 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2844 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2845 indicates the current thread.
2849 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2852 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2854 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2855 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2856 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2860 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2861 Solaris-specific command:
2864 @item maint info sol-threads
2865 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2866 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2867 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2871 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2872 @item thread @var{threadno}
2873 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2874 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2875 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2876 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2877 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2880 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2881 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2882 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2883 8 printf ("hello\n");
2887 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2888 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2891 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2892 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2893 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2894 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2895 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2896 information on convenience variables.
2898 @kindex thread apply
2899 @cindex apply command to several threads
2900 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2901 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2902 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2903 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2904 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2905 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2906 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2907 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2910 @cindex name a thread
2911 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2912 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2913 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2914 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2916 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2917 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2918 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2919 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2920 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2923 @cindex search for a thread
2924 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2925 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2926 matches the supplied regular expression.
2928 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2929 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2930 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2934 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2935 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2936 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2938 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2941 @kindex set print thread-events
2942 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2943 @item set print thread-events
2944 @itemx set print thread-events on
2945 @itemx set print thread-events off
2946 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2947 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2948 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2949 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2950 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2952 @kindex show print thread-events
2953 @item show print thread-events
2954 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2955 have started and exited.
2958 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2959 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2960 programs with multiple threads.
2962 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2963 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2965 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2967 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2968 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2969 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2970 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2971 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2972 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2973 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2974 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2977 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2978 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2979 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2980 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2981 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2982 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2984 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2985 refers to the default system directories that are
2986 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2987 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2988 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2990 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2991 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2992 was loaded in the inferior process.
2994 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2995 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2996 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2997 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2998 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2999 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
3000 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
3002 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
3003 only on some platforms.
3005 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
3006 @item show libthread-db-search-path
3007 Display current libthread_db search path.
3009 @kindex set debug libthread-db
3010 @kindex show debug libthread-db
3011 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
3012 @item set debug libthread-db
3013 @itemx show debug libthread-db
3014 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
3015 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
3019 @section Debugging Forks
3021 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
3022 @cindex multiple processes
3023 @cindex processes, multiple
3024 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
3025 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
3026 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
3027 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
3028 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
3029 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
3030 will cause it to terminate.
3032 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3033 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3034 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3035 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3036 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3037 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3038 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3039 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3040 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3041 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3043 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
3044 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
3045 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3046 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3048 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3049 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3051 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3052 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3055 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
3056 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3057 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3058 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3059 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3063 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3064 unimpeded. This is the default.
3067 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3072 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3073 @item show follow-fork-mode
3074 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3077 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3078 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3079 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3082 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3083 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3084 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3085 retain debugger control over them both.
3089 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3090 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3091 independently. This is the default.
3094 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3095 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3096 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3101 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3102 @item show detach-on-fork
3103 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3106 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3107 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3108 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3109 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3110 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3111 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3113 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3114 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3115 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3116 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3119 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3120 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3121 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3122 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3123 the child process's @code{main}.
3125 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3126 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3128 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3129 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3130 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3131 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3132 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3133 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3137 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3138 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3140 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3141 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3143 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3147 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3148 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3149 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3155 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3157 Id Description Executable
3160 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3161 Program exited normally.
3162 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3163 Id Description Executable
3169 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3170 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3171 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3172 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3173 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3178 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3179 Id Description Executable
3182 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3183 Program exited normally.
3184 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3185 Id Description Executable
3192 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3193 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3194 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3196 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3197 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3202 @cindex snapshot of a process
3203 @cindex rewind program state
3205 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3206 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3207 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3210 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3211 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3212 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3213 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3214 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3216 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3217 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3218 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3219 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3220 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3221 start again from there.
3223 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3224 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3226 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3231 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3232 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3233 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3235 @kindex info checkpoints
3236 @item info checkpoints
3237 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3238 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3245 @item Source line, or label
3248 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3249 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3250 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3251 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3252 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3253 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3254 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3256 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3257 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3258 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3261 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3262 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3263 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3267 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3268 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3269 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3270 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3271 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3272 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3273 previously read data can be read again.
3275 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3276 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3277 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3278 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3279 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3280 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3282 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3283 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3284 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3285 different execution path this time.
3287 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3288 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3289 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3290 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3291 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3292 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3293 potentially pose a problem.
3295 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3297 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3298 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3299 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3300 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3301 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3304 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3305 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3306 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3307 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3308 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3311 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3313 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3314 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3315 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3317 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3318 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3319 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3320 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3321 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3322 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3323 explicitly request this information at any time.
3326 @kindex info program
3328 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3329 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3333 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3334 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3335 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3336 Skipping over functions and files
3338 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3342 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3345 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3346 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3347 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3348 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3349 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3350 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3353 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3354 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3355 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3356 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3357 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3361 @cindex data breakpoints
3362 @cindex memory tracing
3363 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3364 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3365 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3366 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3367 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3368 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3369 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3370 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3371 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3372 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3375 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3376 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3380 @cindex breakpoint on events
3381 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3382 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3383 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3384 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3385 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3386 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3387 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3389 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3390 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3391 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3392 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3393 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3394 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3395 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3396 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3399 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3400 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3401 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3402 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3403 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3404 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3405 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3408 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3409 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3410 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3411 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3412 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3413 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3414 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3415 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3416 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3417 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3418 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3419 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3423 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3425 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3426 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3428 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3431 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3432 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3433 @cindex latest breakpoint
3434 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3435 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3436 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3437 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3438 convenience variables.
3441 @item break @var{location}
3442 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3443 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3444 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3445 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3446 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3448 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3449 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3450 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3453 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3454 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3455 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3458 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3459 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3460 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3461 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3462 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3463 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3464 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3465 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3466 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3469 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3470 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3471 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3472 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3473 existed when your program stopped.
3475 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3476 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3477 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3478 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3479 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3480 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3481 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3484 @item tbreak @var{args}
3485 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3486 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3487 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3488 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3491 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3492 @item hbreak @var{args}
3493 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3494 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3495 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3496 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3497 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3498 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3499 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3500 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3501 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3502 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3503 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3504 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3505 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3506 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3507 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3508 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3509 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3510 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3513 @item thbreak @var{args}
3514 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3515 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3516 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3517 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3518 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3519 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3520 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3521 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3524 @cindex regular expression
3525 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3526 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3527 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3528 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3529 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3530 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3531 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3532 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3533 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3535 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3536 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3537 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3538 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3539 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3540 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3542 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3543 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3544 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3547 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3548 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3549 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3552 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3555 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3556 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3557 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3558 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3559 every function in a given file:
3562 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3565 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3566 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3568 @kindex info breakpoints
3569 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3570 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3571 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3572 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3573 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3574 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3575 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3578 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3580 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3582 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3583 @item Enabled or Disabled
3584 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3585 that are not enabled.
3587 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3588 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3589 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3590 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3591 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3592 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3594 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3595 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3596 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3597 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3601 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3602 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3603 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3604 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3605 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3606 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3608 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3609 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3610 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3611 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3614 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3615 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3616 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3617 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3618 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3621 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3622 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3623 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3624 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3625 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3626 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3629 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3630 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3634 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3635 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3636 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3637 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3639 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3640 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3641 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3642 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3646 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3649 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3650 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3653 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3654 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3657 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3658 several places where that function is inlined.
3661 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3662 the relevant locations.
3664 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3665 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3666 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3667 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3668 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3669 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3670 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3675 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3676 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3678 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3679 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3680 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3683 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3684 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3685 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3686 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3687 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3688 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3689 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3690 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3691 that belong to that breakpoint.
3693 @cindex pending breakpoints
3694 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3695 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3696 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3697 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3698 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3699 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3700 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3701 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3702 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3703 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3704 is not yet resolved.
3706 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3707 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3708 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3709 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3710 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3711 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3713 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3714 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3715 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3716 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3718 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3719 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3720 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3722 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3723 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3724 address specification to an address:
3726 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3727 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3729 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3730 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3731 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3733 @item set breakpoint pending on
3734 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3735 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3737 @item set breakpoint pending off
3738 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3739 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3740 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3742 @item show breakpoint pending
3743 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3746 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3747 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3748 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3750 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3751 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3752 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3753 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3754 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3755 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3756 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3759 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3761 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3762 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3764 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3765 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3766 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3767 breakpoint must be used.
3769 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3770 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3771 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3772 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3775 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3776 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3777 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3778 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3779 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3780 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3781 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3782 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3783 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3785 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3786 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3788 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3789 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3790 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3791 removed from the target when it stops.
3793 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3794 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3795 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3796 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3797 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3799 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3800 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3801 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3802 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3803 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3804 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3805 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3808 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3809 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3810 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3812 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3813 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3815 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3817 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3818 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3820 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3821 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3822 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3823 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3824 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3826 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3827 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3828 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3829 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3830 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3831 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3832 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3833 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3834 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3835 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3836 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3837 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3838 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3840 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3841 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3842 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3843 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3844 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3845 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3849 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3850 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3851 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3852 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3853 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3854 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3855 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3856 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3859 @node Set Watchpoints
3860 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3862 @cindex setting watchpoints
3863 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3864 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3865 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3866 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3867 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3871 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3874 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3875 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3876 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3879 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3880 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3881 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3884 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3885 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3886 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3887 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3888 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3889 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3890 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3891 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3892 the expression changes.
3894 @cindex software watchpoints
3895 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3896 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3897 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3898 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3899 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3900 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3903 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3904 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3905 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3909 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3910 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3911 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3912 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3913 to watch the value of a single variable:
3916 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3919 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3920 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3921 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3922 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3923 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3924 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3926 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3927 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3928 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3929 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3930 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3931 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3932 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3935 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3936 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3937 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3938 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3939 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3940 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3941 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3942 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3943 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3944 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3948 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3949 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3953 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3954 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3958 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3959 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3960 or written into by the program.
3962 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3963 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3964 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3965 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3968 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3969 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3970 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3971 a never-changing value:
3974 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3975 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3976 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3977 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3980 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3981 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3982 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3983 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3984 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3985 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3987 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3988 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3989 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3990 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3991 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3992 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3993 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3994 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3997 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3998 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3999 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
4001 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4002 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4003 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
4006 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
4007 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
4008 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
4010 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
4013 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
4017 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
4019 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
4020 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
4021 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
4022 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
4023 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
4024 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
4025 will print a message like this:
4028 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
4031 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4032 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4033 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4034 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4035 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4036 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4037 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4038 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4040 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4041 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4042 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4043 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4044 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4045 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4048 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4052 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4054 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4055 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4056 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4057 expression with separately allocated resources.
4059 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4060 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4061 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4063 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4064 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4065 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4066 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4067 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4068 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4069 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4070 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4071 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4073 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4074 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4075 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4076 watched expression from every thread.
4079 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4080 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4081 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4082 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4083 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4084 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4085 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4086 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4087 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4090 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4092 @node Set Catchpoints
4093 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4094 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4095 @cindex exception handlers
4096 @cindex event handling
4098 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4099 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4100 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4104 @item catch @var{event}
4105 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4108 @item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4109 @itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4110 @itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4112 @kindex catch rethrow
4114 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4115 The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4117 If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4118 regular expression will be caught.
4120 @vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4121 The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4122 exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4123 exception being thrown.
4125 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4130 The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4131 systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4135 The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4136 variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4137 If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4138 These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4139 or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4143 The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4144 instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4147 When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4148 location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4149 support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4150 (@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4153 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4154 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4155 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4156 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4157 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4158 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4159 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4160 disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4161 controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4164 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4167 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4171 @kindex catch exception
4172 @cindex Ada exception catching
4173 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4174 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4175 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4176 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4177 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4179 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4180 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4181 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4182 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4183 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4184 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4185 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4186 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4188 @item exception unhandled
4189 @kindex catch exception unhandled
4190 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4193 @kindex catch assert
4194 A failed Ada assertion.
4198 @cindex break on fork/exec
4199 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4203 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4204 @kindex catch syscall
4205 @cindex break on a system call.
4206 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4207 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4208 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4209 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4210 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4211 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4214 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4215 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4216 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4217 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4219 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4220 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4221 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4222 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4224 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4225 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4226 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4229 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4230 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4231 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4232 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4233 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4234 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4235 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4236 behind the OS upgrades).
4238 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4242 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4243 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4245 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4247 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4248 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4252 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4253 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4257 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4260 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4261 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4263 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4265 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4266 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4270 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4271 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4275 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4276 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4277 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4280 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4281 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4283 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4285 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4286 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4290 Program exited normally.
4294 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4295 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4296 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4297 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4300 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4301 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4302 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4306 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4307 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4308 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4309 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4310 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4311 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4314 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4315 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4316 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4317 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4318 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4322 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4324 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4325 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4328 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4329 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4332 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4336 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4341 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4344 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4345 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4347 @kindex catch unload
4348 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4349 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4350 matches one of the affected libraries.
4352 @item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4353 @kindex catch signal
4354 The delivery of a signal.
4356 With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4357 used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4358 @samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4360 With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4361 @value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4364 Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4365 @code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4368 One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4369 @code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4372 When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4373 @code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4374 However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4375 on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4380 @item tcatch @var{event}
4382 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4383 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4387 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4391 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4393 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4394 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4395 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4396 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4397 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4398 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4400 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4401 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4402 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4403 their breakpoint numbers.
4405 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4406 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4407 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4412 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4413 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4414 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4415 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4417 @item clear @var{location}
4418 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4419 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4420 most useful ones are listed below:
4423 @item clear @var{function}
4424 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4425 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4427 @item clear @var{linenum}
4428 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4429 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4430 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4433 @cindex delete breakpoints
4435 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4436 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4437 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4438 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4439 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4440 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4444 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4446 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4447 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4448 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4449 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4450 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4452 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4453 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4454 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4455 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4456 do not know which numbers to use.
4458 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4459 affects all of its locations.
4461 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4462 different states of enablement:
4466 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4467 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4469 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4471 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4474 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4475 N times, then becomes disabled.
4477 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4478 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4479 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4482 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4483 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4487 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4488 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4489 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4490 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4491 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4492 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4493 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4496 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4497 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4498 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4500 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4501 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4502 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4504 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4505 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4506 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4507 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4508 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4509 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4510 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4512 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4513 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4514 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4515 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4518 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4519 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4520 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4521 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4522 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4523 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4524 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4525 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4529 @subsection Break Conditions
4530 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4531 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4533 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4534 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4535 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4536 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4537 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4538 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4539 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4540 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4542 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4543 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4544 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4545 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4546 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4548 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4549 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4550 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4551 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4554 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4555 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4556 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4557 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4558 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4559 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4560 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4561 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4563 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4564 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4566 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4567 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4568 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4569 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4570 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4571 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4573 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4574 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4575 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4576 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4577 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4579 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4580 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4581 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4582 with the @code{condition} command.
4584 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4585 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4586 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4591 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4592 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4593 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4594 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4595 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4596 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4597 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4598 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4599 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4600 prints an error message:
4603 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4608 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4609 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4610 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4612 @item condition @var{bnum}
4613 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4614 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4617 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4618 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4619 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4620 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4621 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4622 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4623 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4624 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4625 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4626 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4627 your program reaches it.
4631 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4632 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4633 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4634 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4637 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4640 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4641 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4642 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4643 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4645 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4646 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4647 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4649 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4650 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4651 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4655 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4658 @node Break Commands
4659 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4661 @cindex breakpoint commands
4662 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4663 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4664 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4665 enable other breakpoints.
4669 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4670 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4671 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4673 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4674 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4675 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4677 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4678 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4680 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4681 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4682 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4683 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4684 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4685 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4686 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4690 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4691 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4693 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4694 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4695 that resumes execution.
4697 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4698 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4699 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4700 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4701 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4704 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4705 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4706 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4707 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4708 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4709 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4711 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4712 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4713 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4715 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4716 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4722 printf "x is %d\n",x
4727 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4728 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4729 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4730 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4731 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4732 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4733 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4744 @node Dynamic Printf
4745 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4747 @cindex dynamic printf
4749 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4750 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4751 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4752 having to recompile it.
4754 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4755 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4756 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4757 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4758 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4759 redirects to files and so forth.
4761 If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4762 ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4763 ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4764 with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4765 the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4766 target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4767 everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4771 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4772 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4773 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4774 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4776 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4777 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4778 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4779 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4780 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4781 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4784 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4785 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4788 @kindex dprintf-style call
4789 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4793 @kindex dprintf-style agent
4794 Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4795 the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4796 support running commands on the target.
4798 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4799 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4800 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4801 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4804 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4805 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4806 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4807 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4808 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4809 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4811 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4812 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4813 you could do the following:
4816 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4817 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4818 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4819 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4820 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4822 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4823 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4828 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4829 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4830 the variable settings.
4832 @item set disconnected-dprintf on
4833 @itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4834 @kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4835 Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4836 @value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4837 if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4839 @item show disconnected-dprintf off
4840 @kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4841 Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4845 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4846 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4847 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4848 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4849 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4850 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4852 @node Save Breakpoints
4853 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4855 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4856 breakpoints}} command.
4859 @kindex save breakpoints
4860 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4861 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4862 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4863 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4864 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4865 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4866 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4867 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4868 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4869 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4870 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4871 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4872 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4873 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4874 that can no longer be recreated.
4877 @node Static Probe Points
4878 @subsection Static Probe Points
4880 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4881 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4882 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4883 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4884 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4885 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4886 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4888 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4889 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4890 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4891 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4892 in your applications.
4894 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4895 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4896 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4897 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4898 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4899 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4900 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4901 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4903 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4904 probes}, with optional arguments:
4908 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4909 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4910 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4911 probes from all providers are listed.
4913 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4914 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4915 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4917 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4918 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4919 given, all object files are considered.
4921 @item info probes all
4922 List the available static probes, from all types.
4925 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4926 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4927 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4928 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4929 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4930 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4931 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4932 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4933 at the current probe point.
4935 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4936 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4940 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4941 @node Error in Breakpoints
4942 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4944 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4945 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4947 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4948 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4950 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4951 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4955 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4956 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4957 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4959 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4960 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4962 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4963 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4964 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4966 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4967 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4968 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4969 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4971 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4972 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4973 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4974 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4975 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4976 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4977 first in the bundle.
4979 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4980 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4981 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4982 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4983 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4984 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4987 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4988 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4991 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4994 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4995 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4996 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4997 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4998 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4999 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
5000 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
5001 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
5003 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
5004 adjusted breakpoints:
5007 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
5011 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
5012 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
5013 frequently than expected.
5015 @node Continuing and Stepping
5016 @section Continuing and Stepping
5020 @cindex resuming execution
5021 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
5022 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
5023 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
5024 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
5025 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
5026 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
5027 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
5028 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
5032 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
5033 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
5034 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5035 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5036 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5037 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
5038 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
5039 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
5040 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
5041 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
5043 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
5044 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5045 @code{continue} is ignored.
5047 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5048 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5049 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5053 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5054 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5055 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5056 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5058 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5059 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5060 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5061 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5062 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5063 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5067 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5069 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5070 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5071 abbreviated @code{s}.
5074 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5075 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5076 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5077 @c distinction here.
5078 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5079 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5080 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5081 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5082 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5083 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5087 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5088 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5089 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5090 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5091 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5092 called within the line.
5094 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5095 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5096 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5097 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5098 was any debugging information about the routine.
5100 @item step @var{count}
5101 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5102 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5103 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5106 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5107 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5108 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5109 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5110 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5111 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5112 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5113 is abbreviated @code{n}.
5115 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5118 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5119 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5121 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5122 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5123 @c function are executed without stopping.
5125 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5126 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5127 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5129 @kindex set step-mode
5131 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5132 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5133 @itemx set step-mode on
5134 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5135 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5136 information rather than stepping over it.
5138 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5139 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5140 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5142 @item set step-mode off
5143 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5144 debug information. This is the default.
5146 @item show step-mode
5147 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5148 source line debug information.
5151 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5153 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5154 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5155 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5157 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5158 ,Returning from a Function}).
5161 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5162 @cindex run until specified location
5165 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5166 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5167 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5168 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5169 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5170 than the address of the jump.
5172 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5173 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5174 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5175 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5176 through the next iteration.
5178 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5181 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5182 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5183 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5184 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5185 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5189 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5191 (@value{GDBP}) until
5192 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5195 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5196 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5197 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5198 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5199 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5200 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5201 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5203 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5204 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5207 @item until @var{location}
5208 @itemx u @var{location}
5209 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5210 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5211 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5212 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5213 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5214 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5215 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5216 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5217 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5218 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5219 invocations have returned.
5222 94 int factorial (int value)
5224 96 if (value > 1) @{
5225 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5232 @kindex advance @var{location}
5233 @item advance @var{location}
5234 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5235 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5236 @ref{Specify Location}.
5237 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5238 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5239 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5240 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5244 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5246 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5248 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5250 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5251 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5252 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5253 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5255 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5259 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5261 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5263 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5264 proceed until the function returns.
5266 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5270 @anchor{range stepping}
5271 @cindex range stepping
5272 @cindex target-assisted range stepping
5273 By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5274 target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5275 use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5276 tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5277 addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5278 line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5279 be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5280 possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5281 remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5282 stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5283 enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5287 @kindex set range-stepping
5288 @kindex show range-stepping
5289 @item set range-stepping
5290 @itemx show range-stepping
5291 Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5293 If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5294 target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5295 multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5296 single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5297 default is @code{on}.
5301 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5302 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5303 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5305 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5306 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5307 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5309 For example, consider the following C function:
5320 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5321 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5322 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5323 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5325 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5326 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5327 is called from many places.
5329 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5330 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5331 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5334 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5335 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5338 @kindex skip function
5339 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5340 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5341 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5342 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5343 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5345 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5348 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5349 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5352 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5353 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5354 will be skipped over when stepping.
5356 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5357 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5360 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5361 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5365 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5366 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5367 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5368 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5372 A number identifying this skip.
5374 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5375 @item Enabled or Disabled
5376 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5378 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5379 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5380 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5381 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5384 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5385 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5386 where it is defined.
5390 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5391 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5395 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5396 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5399 @kindex skip disable
5400 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5401 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5410 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5411 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5412 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5413 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5414 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5415 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5416 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5417 requested an alarm).
5419 @cindex fatal signals
5420 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5421 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5422 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5423 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5424 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5425 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5427 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5428 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5431 @cindex handling signals
5432 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5433 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5434 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5435 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5436 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5439 @kindex info signals
5443 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5444 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5445 the defined types of signals.
5447 @item info signals @var{sig}
5448 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5450 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5452 @item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5453 Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5454 for details about this command.
5457 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5458 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5459 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5460 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5461 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5462 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5463 say what change to make.
5467 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5468 Their full names are:
5472 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5473 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5476 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5477 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5480 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5483 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5484 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5488 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5489 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5490 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5494 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5495 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5499 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5501 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5502 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5503 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5504 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5505 program sees that signal when you continue.
5507 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5508 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5509 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5512 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5513 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5514 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5515 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5516 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5517 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5518 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5519 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5522 @cindex extra signal information
5523 @anchor{extra signal information}
5525 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5526 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5527 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5528 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5529 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5530 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5531 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5532 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5533 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5536 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5537 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5541 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5542 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5543 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5545 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5552 struct @{...@} _kill;
5553 struct @{...@} _timer;
5555 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5556 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5557 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5560 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5564 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5565 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5569 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5572 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5574 @cindex stopped threads
5575 @cindex threads, stopped
5577 @cindex continuing threads
5578 @cindex threads, continuing
5580 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5581 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5582 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5583 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5584 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5585 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5586 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5587 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5588 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5591 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5592 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5593 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5594 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5595 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5596 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5600 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5602 @cindex all-stop mode
5604 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5605 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5606 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5607 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5610 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5611 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5612 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5614 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5615 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5616 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5617 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5618 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5619 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5622 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5623 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5624 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5625 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5627 @cindex automatic thread selection
5628 @cindex switching threads automatically
5629 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5630 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5631 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5632 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5633 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5636 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5637 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5640 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5641 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5642 @cindex lock scheduler
5643 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5644 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5645 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5646 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5647 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5648 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5649 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5650 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5651 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5652 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5653 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5654 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5656 @item show scheduler-locking
5657 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5660 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5661 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5662 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5663 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5664 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5665 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5666 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5667 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5668 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5669 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5670 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5671 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5672 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5673 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5676 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5677 @item set schedule-multiple
5678 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5679 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5680 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5681 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5682 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5683 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5685 @item show schedule-multiple
5686 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5691 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5693 @cindex non-stop mode
5695 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5696 @c with more details.
5698 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5699 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5700 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5701 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5702 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5703 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5705 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5706 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5707 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5708 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5709 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5710 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5711 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5712 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5713 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5714 independently and simultaneously.
5716 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5717 or attach to your program:
5720 # Enable the async interface.
5723 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5726 # Finally, turn it on!
5730 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5733 @kindex set non-stop
5734 @item set non-stop on
5735 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5736 @item set non-stop off
5737 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5738 @kindex show non-stop
5740 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5743 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5744 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5745 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5746 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5747 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5748 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5749 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5752 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5753 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5754 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5756 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5757 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5758 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5759 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5760 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5762 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5763 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5764 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5765 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5766 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5768 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5770 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5771 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5772 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5773 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5774 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5775 previously current thread.
5777 @node Background Execution
5778 @subsection Background Execution
5780 @cindex foreground execution
5781 @cindex background execution
5782 @cindex asynchronous execution
5783 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5785 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5786 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5787 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5788 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5789 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5790 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5792 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5793 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5794 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5797 @kindex set target-async
5798 @item set target-async on
5799 Enable asynchronous mode.
5800 @item set target-async off
5801 Disable asynchronous mode.
5802 @kindex show target-async
5803 @item show target-async
5804 Show the current target-async setting.
5807 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5808 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5810 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5811 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5812 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5818 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5822 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5826 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5830 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5834 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5838 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5842 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5846 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5850 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5854 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5855 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5856 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5857 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5858 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5859 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5861 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5862 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5869 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5870 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5871 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5872 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5875 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5876 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5878 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5879 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5880 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5883 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5884 @cindex thread breakpoints
5885 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5886 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5887 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5888 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5889 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5890 specify some source line.
5892 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5893 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5894 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5895 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5896 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5898 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5899 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5902 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5903 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5904 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5907 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5912 Thread-specific breakpoints are automatically deleted when
5913 @value{GDBN} detects the corresponding thread is no longer in the
5914 thread list. For example:
5918 Thread-specific breakpoint 3 deleted - thread 28 no longer in the thread list.
5921 There are several ways for a thread to disappear, such as a regular
5922 thread exit, but also when you detach from the process with the
5923 @code{detach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
5924 Process}), or if @value{GDBN} loses the remote connection
5925 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), etc. Note that with some targets,
5926 @value{GDBN} is only able to detect a thread has exited when the user
5927 explictly asks for the thread list with the @code{info threads}
5930 @node Interrupted System Calls
5931 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5933 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5934 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5935 @cindex premature return from system calls
5936 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5937 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5938 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5939 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5940 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5941 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5944 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5945 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5948 For example, do not write code like this:
5954 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5955 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5957 Instead, write this:
5962 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5965 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5966 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5967 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5970 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5971 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5972 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5973 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5976 @subsection Observer Mode
5978 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5979 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5980 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5981 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5982 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5984 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5985 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5986 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5989 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5990 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5991 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5992 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5993 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5998 @item set observer on
5999 @itemx set observer off
6000 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
6001 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
6002 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
6003 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
6006 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
6008 @kindex may-write-registers
6009 @item set may-write-registers on
6010 @itemx set may-write-registers off
6011 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
6012 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
6013 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
6015 @item show may-write-registers
6016 Show the current permission to write registers.
6018 @kindex may-write-memory
6019 @item set may-write-memory on
6020 @itemx set may-write-memory off
6021 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
6022 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
6023 defaults to @code{on}.
6025 @item show may-write-memory
6026 Show the current permission to write memory.
6028 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
6029 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
6030 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
6031 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
6032 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
6033 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6035 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
6036 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
6038 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
6039 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
6040 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
6041 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
6042 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6043 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
6044 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6046 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
6047 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
6049 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6050 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
6051 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
6052 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
6053 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6054 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
6055 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6057 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6058 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
6060 @kindex may-interrupt
6061 @item set may-interrupt on
6062 @itemx set may-interrupt off
6063 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6064 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6065 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6066 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6068 @item show may-interrupt
6069 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6073 @node Reverse Execution
6074 @chapter Running programs backward
6075 @cindex reverse execution
6076 @cindex running programs backward
6078 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6079 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6080 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6081 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6083 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6084 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6085 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6086 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6087 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6088 all target environments can support reverse execution.
6090 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6091 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6092 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6093 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6094 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6095 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6096 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6097 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6098 prior values@footnote{
6099 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6100 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6101 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6103 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6104 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6105 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6106 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6107 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6108 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6109 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6112 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6113 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6116 @kindex reverse-continue
6117 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6118 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6119 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6120 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6121 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6122 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6123 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6125 @kindex reverse-step
6126 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6127 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6128 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6129 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6131 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6132 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6133 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6134 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6135 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6136 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6138 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6139 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6141 @kindex reverse-stepi
6142 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6143 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6144 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6145 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6146 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6147 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6148 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6150 @kindex reverse-next
6151 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6152 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6153 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6154 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6155 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6156 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6157 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6158 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6159 line of a function back to its return to its caller
6160 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6162 @kindex reverse-nexti
6163 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6164 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6165 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6166 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6167 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6168 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6169 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6172 @kindex reverse-finish
6173 @item reverse-finish
6174 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6175 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6176 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6177 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6179 @kindex set exec-direction
6180 @item set exec-direction
6181 Set the direction of target execution.
6182 @item set exec-direction reverse
6183 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
6184 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6185 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6186 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6187 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6188 @item set exec-direction forward
6189 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6190 This is the default.
6194 @node Process Record and Replay
6195 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6196 @cindex process record and replay
6197 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6199 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6200 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6201 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6204 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6205 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6206 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6207 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6208 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6209 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6210 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6211 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6215 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6216 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6217 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6220 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6221 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6222 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6223 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6224 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6225 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6227 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6228 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6229 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6230 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6232 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6233 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6236 @kindex target record
6237 @kindex target record-full
6238 @kindex target record-btrace
6241 @kindex record btrace
6245 @item record @var{method}
6246 This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6247 recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6248 the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6249 recording methods are available:
6253 Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6254 replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6258 Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not allow
6259 replaying and reverse execution.
6261 This recording method may not be available on all processors.
6264 The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6265 already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6266 the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6267 with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6269 Both @code{record @var{method}} and @code{rec @var{method}} are
6270 aliases of @code{target record-@var{method}}.
6272 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6273 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6274 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6275 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6276 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6278 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6279 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6280 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6281 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6282 all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6283 does not support these two modes.
6288 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6289 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6290 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6292 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6293 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6294 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6295 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6296 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6298 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6299 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6300 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6301 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6302 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6304 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6305 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6309 Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6310 ways to specify the location to go to:
6313 @item record goto begin
6314 @itemx record goto start
6315 Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6317 @item record goto end
6318 Go to the end of the execution log.
6320 @item record goto @var{n}
6321 Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6325 @item record save @var{filename}
6326 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6327 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6328 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6330 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6332 @kindex record restore
6333 @item record restore @var{filename}
6334 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6335 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6337 @kindex set record full
6338 @item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6339 @itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6340 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6341 recording method. Default value is 200000.
6343 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6344 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6345 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6346 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6347 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6348 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6349 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6350 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6352 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6353 delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6354 recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6356 @kindex show record full
6357 @item show record full insn-number-max
6358 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6361 @item set record full stop-at-limit
6362 Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6363 number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6364 default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6365 first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6366 continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6367 to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6368 oldest one to be deleted.
6370 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6371 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6373 @item show record full stop-at-limit
6374 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6376 @item set record full memory-query
6377 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6378 changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6379 If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6382 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6383 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6384 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6385 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6388 @item show record full memory-query
6389 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6393 Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6398 For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6399 record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6403 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6405 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6407 Highest recorded instruction number.
6409 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6411 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6413 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6417 For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows the number of
6418 instructions that have been recorded and the number of blocks of
6419 sequential control-flow that is formed by the recorded instructions.
6422 @kindex record delete
6425 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6426 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6427 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6428 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6430 @kindex record instruction-history
6431 @kindex rec instruction-history
6432 @item record instruction-history
6433 Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6434 default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6435 the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6436 are printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify
6437 what part of the execution log to disassemble:
6440 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6441 Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6444 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6445 Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6446 @var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6447 @var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6448 @var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6449 instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6451 @item record instruction-history
6452 Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6454 @item record instruction-history -
6455 Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6457 @item record instruction-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6458 Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6459 @var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6460 number @var{end} is not included.
6463 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6466 @item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6467 @itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6468 Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6469 instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6470 A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6473 @item show record instruction-history-size
6474 Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6475 instruction-history} command.
6477 @kindex record function-call-history
6478 @kindex rec function-call-history
6479 @item record function-call-history
6480 Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6481 line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6482 function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6483 for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6484 specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6485 the @code{/i} modifier is specified).
6488 (@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
6499 (@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /l}
6505 By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6506 @code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6507 printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6511 @item record function-call-history @var{func}
6512 Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6514 @item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6515 Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6516 @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6517 function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6518 prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6520 @item record function-call-history
6521 Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6523 @item record function-call-history -
6524 Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6526 @item record function-call-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6527 Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6528 function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is not
6532 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6534 @item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
6535 @itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
6536 Define how many lines to print in the
6537 @code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6538 A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
6540 @item show record function-call-history-size
6541 Show how many lines to print in the
6542 @code{record function-call-history} command.
6547 @chapter Examining the Stack
6549 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6550 stopped and how it got there.
6553 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6555 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6556 the arguments of the call,
6557 and the local variables of the function being called.
6558 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6559 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6562 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6563 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6565 @cindex selected frame
6566 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6567 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6568 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6569 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6570 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6571 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6573 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6574 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6575 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6578 * Frames:: Stack frames
6579 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6580 * Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
6581 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6582 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6587 @section Stack Frames
6589 @cindex frame, definition
6591 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6592 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6593 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6594 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6595 which the function is executing.
6597 @cindex initial frame
6598 @cindex outermost frame
6599 @cindex innermost frame
6600 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6601 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6602 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6603 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6604 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6605 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6606 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6607 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6609 @cindex frame pointer
6610 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6611 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6612 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6613 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6614 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6615 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6617 @cindex frame number
6618 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6619 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6620 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6621 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6622 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6624 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6625 @c underflow problems.
6626 @cindex frameless execution
6627 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6628 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6630 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6632 generates functions without a frame.)
6633 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6634 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6635 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6636 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6637 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6638 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6639 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6642 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6643 @cindex current stack frame
6644 @item frame @var{args}
6645 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6646 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6647 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6648 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6650 @kindex select-frame
6651 @cindex selecting frame silently
6653 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6654 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6662 @cindex call stack traces
6663 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6664 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6665 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6668 @anchor{backtrace-command}
6671 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6674 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6675 frames in the stack.
6677 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6678 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6680 @item backtrace @var{n}
6682 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6684 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6686 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6688 @item backtrace full
6690 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6691 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6692 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6693 number of frames to print, as described above.
6695 @item backtrace no-filters
6696 @itemx bt no-filters
6697 @itemx bt no-filters @var{n}
6698 @itemx bt no-filters -@var{n}
6699 @itemx bt no-filters full
6700 @itemx bt no-filters full @var{n}
6701 @itemx bt no-filters full -@var{n}
6702 Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
6703 Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
6704 frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
6705 relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
6711 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6712 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6714 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6715 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6716 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6717 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6718 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6719 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6720 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6721 multi-threaded program.
6723 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6724 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6725 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6726 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6727 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6730 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6731 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6735 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6737 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6738 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6740 (More stack frames follow...)
6745 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6746 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6747 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6750 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6751 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6752 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6753 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6754 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6756 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6757 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6758 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6759 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6760 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6761 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6762 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6763 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6764 such a backtrace might look like:
6768 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6770 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6771 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6773 (More stack frames follow...)
6778 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6779 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6781 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6782 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6783 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6785 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6786 @cindex program entry point
6787 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6788 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6789 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6790 @code{main}@footnote{
6791 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6792 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6793 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6794 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6795 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6796 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6798 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6799 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6802 @item set backtrace past-main
6803 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6804 @kindex set backtrace
6805 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6807 @item set backtrace past-main off
6808 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6811 @item show backtrace past-main
6812 @kindex show backtrace
6813 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6815 @item set backtrace past-entry
6816 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6817 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6818 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6819 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6821 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6822 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6823 application. This is the default.
6825 @item show backtrace past-entry
6826 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6828 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6829 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6830 @itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
6831 @cindex backtrace limit
6832 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
6833 or zero means unlimited levels.
6835 @item show backtrace limit
6836 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6839 You can control how file names are displayed.
6842 @item set filename-display
6843 @itemx set filename-display relative
6844 @cindex filename-display
6845 Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
6847 @item set filename-display basename
6848 Display only basename of a filename.
6850 @item set filename-display absolute
6851 Display an absolute filename.
6853 @item show filename-display
6854 Show the current way to display filenames.
6857 @node Frame Filter Management
6858 @section Management of Frame Filters.
6859 @cindex managing frame filters
6861 Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
6862 output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
6864 Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
6865 within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
6868 @kindex info frame-filter
6869 @item info frame-filter
6870 Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
6871 their name, priority and enabled status.
6873 @kindex disable frame-filter
6874 @anchor{disable frame-filter all}
6875 @item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6876 Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6877 @var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6878 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6879 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6880 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
6881 across all dictionaries are disabled. @var{filter-name} is the name
6882 of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6883 @var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
6884 may be enabled again later.
6886 @kindex enable frame-filter
6887 @item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6888 Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6889 @var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6890 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6891 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6892 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
6893 all dictionaries are enabled. @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
6894 filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6895 @var{filter-dictionary}.
6900 (gdb) info frame-filter
6902 global frame-filters:
6903 Priority Enabled Name
6904 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6907 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6908 Priority Enabled Name
6909 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6911 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6912 Priority Enabled Name
6913 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
6915 (gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
6916 (gdb) info frame-filter
6918 global frame-filters:
6919 Priority Enabled Name
6920 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6923 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6924 Priority Enabled Name
6925 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6927 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6928 Priority Enabled Name
6929 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6931 (gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
6932 (gdb) info frame-filter
6934 global frame-filters:
6935 Priority Enabled Name
6936 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6939 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6940 Priority Enabled Name
6941 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6943 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6944 Priority Enabled Name
6945 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6948 @kindex set frame-filter priority
6949 @item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
6950 Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6951 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6952 @var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6953 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6954 dictionary resides. @var{priority} is an integer.
6956 @kindex show frame-filter priority
6957 @item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6958 Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6959 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6960 @var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6961 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6967 (gdb) info frame-filter
6969 global frame-filters:
6970 Priority Enabled Name
6971 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6974 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6975 Priority Enabled Name
6976 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6978 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6979 Priority Enabled Name
6980 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6982 (gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
6983 (gdb) info frame-filter
6985 global frame-filters:
6986 Priority Enabled Name
6987 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6990 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6991 Priority Enabled Name
6992 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6994 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6995 Priority Enabled Name
6996 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7001 @section Selecting a Frame
7003 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
7004 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
7005 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
7006 of the stack frame just selected.
7009 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
7010 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
7013 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
7014 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
7015 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
7018 @item frame @var{addr}
7020 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
7021 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
7022 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
7023 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
7024 switches between them.
7026 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
7027 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
7029 On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
7030 pointer and a program counter.
7032 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
7033 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
7037 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
7038 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
7039 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
7042 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
7044 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
7045 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
7046 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
7047 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
7050 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
7051 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
7052 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
7053 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
7061 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
7063 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7067 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7068 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7069 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7070 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7071 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7075 @kindex down-silently
7077 @item up-silently @var{n}
7078 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
7079 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7080 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7081 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7082 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7087 @section Information About a Frame
7089 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7095 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7096 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7097 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7098 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7099 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7102 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7105 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7110 the address of the frame
7112 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7114 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7116 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7118 the address of the frame's arguments
7120 the address of the frame's local variables
7122 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7124 which registers were saved in the frame
7127 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
7128 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7129 the usual conventions.
7131 @item info frame @var{addr}
7132 @itemx info f @var{addr}
7133 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7134 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7135 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7136 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7137 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7141 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7145 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7146 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7147 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7153 @chapter Examining Source Files
7155 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7156 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7157 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7158 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7159 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7160 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7161 source files by explicit command.
7163 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7164 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7165 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7168 * List:: Printing source lines
7169 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7170 * Edit:: Editing source files
7171 * Search:: Searching source files
7172 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7173 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7177 @section Printing Source Lines
7180 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7181 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7182 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7183 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7184 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7186 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7189 @item list @var{linenum}
7190 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7191 current source file.
7193 @item list @var{function}
7194 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7198 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7199 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7200 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7201 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7202 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7205 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7208 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7209 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7210 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7213 @kindex set listsize
7214 @item set listsize @var{count}
7215 @itemx set listsize unlimited
7216 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7217 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7218 Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7220 @kindex show listsize
7222 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7225 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7226 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7227 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7228 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7229 each repetition moves up in the source file.
7231 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7232 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
7233 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7234 to specify some source line.
7236 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7239 @item list @var{linespec}
7240 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
7242 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
7243 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7244 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
7245 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
7246 the same source file as the first linespec.
7248 @item list ,@var{last}
7249 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7251 @item list @var{first},
7252 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7255 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7258 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7261 As described in the preceding table.
7264 @node Specify Location
7265 @section Specifying a Location
7266 @cindex specifying location
7269 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7270 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7271 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
7272 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
7274 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
7275 @value{GDBN} understands:
7279 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7282 @itemx +@var{offset}
7283 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7284 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7285 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7286 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7287 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7288 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7289 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7292 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7293 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7294 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7295 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7296 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7297 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7298 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7300 @item @var{function}
7301 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7302 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7304 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
7305 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7307 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7308 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7309 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7310 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7311 functions in different source files.
7314 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
7315 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
7316 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
7317 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
7318 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7320 @item *@var{address}
7321 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
7322 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
7323 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
7324 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7325 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7328 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7329 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7330 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7331 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
7332 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
7336 @item @var{expression}
7337 Any expression valid in the current working language.
7339 @item @var{funcaddr}
7340 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7341 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7342 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7343 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7344 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7345 (although the Pascal form also works).
7347 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7348 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7350 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
7351 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7352 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7353 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7354 functions with identical names in different source files.
7357 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7358 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7359 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7360 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7361 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7362 specifies the location of such a static probe.
7364 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7365 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7366 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7367 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7368 each one of those probes.
7374 @section Editing Source Files
7375 @cindex editing source files
7378 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7379 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7380 The editing program of your choice
7381 is invoked with the current line set to
7382 the active line in the program.
7383 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7384 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7387 @item edit @var{location}
7388 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7389 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7390 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7391 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7392 command most commonly used:
7395 @item edit @var{number}
7396 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7398 @item edit @var{function}
7399 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7404 @subsection Choosing your Editor
7405 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7407 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7408 following command-line syntax:
7410 ex +@var{number} file
7412 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7413 the file where to start editing.}.
7414 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7415 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7416 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7417 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7423 or in the @code{csh} shell,
7425 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7430 @section Searching Source Files
7431 @cindex searching source files
7433 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7438 @kindex forward-search
7439 @kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7440 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
7441 @itemx search @var{regexp}
7442 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7443 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7444 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7445 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7448 @kindex reverse-search
7449 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7450 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7451 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7452 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7453 this command as @code{rev}.
7457 @section Specifying Source Directories
7460 @cindex directories for source files
7461 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7462 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7463 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7464 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7465 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7466 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7467 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7469 For example, suppose an executable references the file
7470 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7471 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7472 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7473 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7474 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7475 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7476 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7477 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7478 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7479 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7481 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7482 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7483 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7484 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7485 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7486 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7488 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7491 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7492 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7493 each line is in the file.
7497 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7498 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7499 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7501 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7502 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7504 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7505 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7506 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7507 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7508 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7509 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7510 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7511 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7512 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7513 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7514 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7515 name to look up the sources.
7517 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7518 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7519 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7520 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7521 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7522 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7523 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7524 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7526 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7527 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7528 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7529 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7530 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7531 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7532 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7534 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7535 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7536 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7537 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7538 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7539 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7540 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7543 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7544 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7545 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7546 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7547 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7548 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7549 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7551 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7552 @cindex default source path substitution
7553 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7554 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7555 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7556 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7557 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7558 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7559 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7560 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7561 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7565 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7566 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7567 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7568 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7569 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7570 part of absolute file names) or
7571 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7572 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7576 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7577 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7578 @cindex compilation directory
7579 @cindex current directory
7580 @cindex working directory
7581 @cindex directory, current
7582 @cindex directory, compilation
7583 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7584 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7585 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7586 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7587 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7588 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7591 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7593 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7594 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7596 @item set directories @var{path-list}
7597 @kindex set directories
7598 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7599 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7601 @item show directories
7602 @kindex show directories
7603 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7605 @anchor{set substitute-path}
7606 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7607 @kindex set substitute-path
7608 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7609 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7610 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7612 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7613 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7616 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7620 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7621 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7622 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7624 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7625 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7626 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7629 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7632 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7633 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7637 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7638 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7639 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7640 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7643 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7644 @kindex unset substitute-path
7645 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7646 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7647 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7649 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7651 @item show substitute-path [path]
7652 @kindex show substitute-path
7653 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7654 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7656 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7661 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7662 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7663 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7667 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7670 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7671 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7672 directories in one command.
7676 @section Source and Machine Code
7677 @cindex source line and its code address
7679 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7680 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7681 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7682 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7683 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7684 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7685 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7690 @item info line @var{linespec}
7691 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7692 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7693 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7696 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7697 the object code for the first line of function
7698 @code{m4_changequote}:
7700 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7701 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7703 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7704 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7708 @cindex code address and its source line
7709 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7710 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7712 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7713 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7716 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7717 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7718 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7719 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7720 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7721 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7722 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7723 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7728 @cindex assembly instructions
7729 @cindex instructions, assembly
7730 @cindex machine instructions
7731 @cindex listing machine instructions
7733 @itemx disassemble /m
7734 @itemx disassemble /r
7735 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7736 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7737 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7738 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7739 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7740 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7741 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7742 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7743 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7744 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7747 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7748 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7749 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7750 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7751 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7755 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7756 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7758 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7759 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7761 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7762 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7765 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7766 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7769 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7770 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7771 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7772 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7773 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7774 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7775 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7776 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7777 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7778 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7779 End of assembler dump.
7782 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7783 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7786 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7787 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7789 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7790 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7791 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7792 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7793 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7795 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7796 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7797 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7801 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7802 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7803 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7805 End of assembler dump.
7808 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7811 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7812 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7813 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7814 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7815 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7816 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7817 End of assembler dump.
7820 Addresses cannot be specified as a linespec (@pxref{Specify Location}).
7821 So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
7822 in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
7823 and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
7825 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7826 mnemonics or other syntax.
7828 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7829 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7830 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7831 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7832 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7835 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7836 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7837 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7838 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7839 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7840 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7842 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7843 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7844 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7845 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7847 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7848 @item show disassembly-flavor
7849 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7853 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7854 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7855 @item set disassemble-next-line
7856 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7857 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7858 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7859 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7860 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7861 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7862 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7863 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7864 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7865 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7866 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7867 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7868 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7869 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7870 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7876 @chapter Examining Data
7878 @cindex printing data
7879 @cindex examining data
7882 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7883 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7884 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7885 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7886 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7887 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7890 @item print @var{expr}
7891 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7892 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7893 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7894 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7895 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7899 @itemx print /@var{f}
7900 @cindex reprint the last value
7901 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7902 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7903 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7906 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7907 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7908 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7910 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7911 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7912 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7915 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7917 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7918 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7919 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7920 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7921 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7922 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7923 embedded in the higher level data types.
7926 @item explore @var{arg}
7927 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7928 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7931 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7932 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7942 struct ComplexStruct
7944 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7950 followed by variable declarations as
7953 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7954 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7958 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7959 @code{explore} command as follows.
7963 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7964 the following fields:
7966 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7967 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7969 Enter the field number of choice:
7973 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7974 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7975 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7976 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7977 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7978 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7979 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7980 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7983 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7984 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7985 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7986 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7988 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7989 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7991 Press enter to return to parent value:
7995 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7996 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7997 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
8001 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
8002 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
8004 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
8008 Press enter to return to parent value:
8011 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
8012 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
8013 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
8014 level data structure).
8016 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
8017 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
8018 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
8019 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
8020 same example as above, your can explore the type
8021 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
8022 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
8025 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
8029 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
8030 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
8031 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
8034 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
8035 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
8036 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
8037 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
8038 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
8041 @item explore value @var{expr}
8042 @cindex explore value
8043 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
8044 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
8045 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
8046 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
8047 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
8049 @item explore type @var{arg}
8050 @cindex explore type
8051 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
8052 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
8053 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
8054 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
8055 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
8056 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
8057 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
8058 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
8059 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
8063 * Expressions:: Expressions
8064 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8065 * Variables:: Program variables
8066 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8067 * Output Formats:: Output formats
8068 * Memory:: Examining memory
8069 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
8070 * Print Settings:: Print settings
8071 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
8072 * Value History:: Value history
8073 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
8074 * Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
8075 * Registers:: Registers
8076 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
8077 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
8078 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
8079 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
8080 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
8081 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
8082 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
8083 character set than GDB does
8084 * Caching Target Data:: Data caching for targets
8085 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
8089 @section Expressions
8092 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
8093 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
8094 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
8095 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
8096 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
8097 you compiled your program to include this information; see
8100 @cindex arrays in expressions
8101 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
8102 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
8103 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
8104 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
8105 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
8106 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
8108 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
8109 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
8110 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
8113 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
8114 expressions regardless of your programming language.
8116 @cindex casts, in expressions
8117 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
8118 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
8119 at that address in memory.
8120 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
8122 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
8123 to programming languages:
8127 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
8128 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
8131 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
8132 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
8134 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
8135 @cindex type casting memory
8136 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
8137 @cindex casts, to view memory
8138 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
8139 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
8140 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
8141 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
8142 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
8143 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
8146 @node Ambiguous Expressions
8147 @section Ambiguous Expressions
8148 @cindex ambiguous expressions
8150 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
8151 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
8152 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
8153 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
8154 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
8155 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
8156 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
8158 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
8159 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
8160 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
8161 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
8162 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
8165 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
8166 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
8167 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
8168 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
8169 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
8170 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
8171 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
8174 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
8175 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
8176 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
8178 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
8181 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
8184 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
8185 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
8186 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
8187 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
8188 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
8189 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
8191 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
8192 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
8193 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
8194 Multiple breakpoints were set.
8195 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
8202 @kindex set multiple-symbols
8203 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
8204 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
8206 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
8209 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
8210 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
8211 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
8212 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
8213 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
8214 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
8215 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
8216 in the use of the menu.
8218 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
8219 when an ambiguity is detected.
8221 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
8222 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
8224 @kindex show multiple-symbols
8225 @item show multiple-symbols
8226 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
8230 @section Program Variables
8232 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
8235 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
8236 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
8240 global (or file-static)
8247 visible according to the scope rules of the
8248 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
8251 @noindent This means that in the function
8266 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
8267 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
8268 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
8269 the block where @code{b} is declared.
8271 @cindex variable name conflict
8272 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8273 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8274 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8275 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8276 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8277 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8278 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8280 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8282 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8283 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8286 @var{file}::@var{variable}
8287 @var{function}::@var{variable}
8291 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8292 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8293 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8294 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8297 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8300 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8301 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8302 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8303 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8304 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8313 process (a); /* Stop here */
8324 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8325 here is what you might see
8326 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8331 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8334 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8337 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8341 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8342 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very
8343 similar use of the same notation in C@t{++}. When they are in
8344 conflict, the C@t{++} meaning takes precedence; however, this can be
8345 overridden by quoting the file or function name with single quotes.
8347 For example, suppose the program is stopped in a method of a class
8348 that has a field named @code{includefile}, and there is also an
8349 include file named @file{includefile} that defines a variable,
8353 (@value{GDBP}) p includefile
8355 (@value{GDBP}) p includefile::some_global
8356 A syntax error in expression, near `'.
8357 (@value{GDBP}) p 'includefile'::some_global
8361 @cindex wrong values
8362 @cindex variable values, wrong
8363 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8364 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8366 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8367 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8368 scope, and just before exit.
8370 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8371 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8372 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8373 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8374 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8375 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8376 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8377 variable definitions may be gone.
8379 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8380 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8383 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8384 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8385 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8386 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8387 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8388 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8389 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8392 No symbol "foo" in current context.
8395 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8396 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8397 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8398 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8399 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8401 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8402 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8403 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8404 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8406 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8407 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8408 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8409 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8410 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8413 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
8419 (gdb) print i@@entry
8423 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8424 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8425 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8426 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8427 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8432 signed char var1[] = "A";
8435 You get during debugging
8440 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8444 @section Artificial Arrays
8446 @cindex artificial array
8448 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
8449 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
8450 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
8451 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
8454 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
8455 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
8456 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
8457 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
8458 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
8459 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
8460 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
8461 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
8462 example. If a program says
8465 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
8469 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
8475 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
8476 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
8477 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
8478 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
8479 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
8481 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
8482 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
8483 The value need not be in memory:
8485 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
8486 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8489 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
8490 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
8491 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
8493 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
8494 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8497 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8498 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8499 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8500 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8501 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8502 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8503 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8504 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8505 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8506 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8516 @node Output Formats
8517 @section Output Formats
8519 @cindex formatted output
8520 @cindex output formats
8521 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8522 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8523 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8524 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8525 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8527 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8528 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8529 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8530 letters supported are:
8534 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8538 Print as integer in signed decimal.
8541 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8544 Print as integer in octal.
8547 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8548 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8549 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8550 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8553 @cindex unknown address, locating
8554 @cindex locate address
8555 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8556 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8557 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8560 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8561 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8565 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8566 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8569 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8570 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8571 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8572 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8574 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8575 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8576 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8580 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8581 using typical floating point syntax.
8584 @cindex printing strings
8585 @cindex printing byte arrays
8586 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8587 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8588 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8591 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8592 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8593 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8597 Like @samp{x} formatting, the value is treated as an integer and
8598 printed as hexadecimal, but leading zeros are printed to pad the value
8599 to the size of the integer type.
8602 @cindex raw printing
8603 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8604 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8605 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8606 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8607 pretty-printer which might exist.
8610 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8617 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8618 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8620 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8621 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8622 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8625 @section Examining Memory
8627 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8628 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8630 @cindex examining memory
8632 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8633 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8636 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8639 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8640 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8641 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8642 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8643 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8646 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8647 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8648 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8649 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8652 @item @var{f}, the display format
8653 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8654 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8655 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8656 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8657 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8659 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8660 The unit size is any of
8666 Halfwords (two bytes).
8668 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8670 Giant words (eight bytes).
8673 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8674 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8675 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8676 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8677 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8678 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8679 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8680 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8681 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8682 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8685 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8686 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8687 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8688 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8689 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8690 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8691 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8692 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8693 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8694 a value from memory).
8697 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8698 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8699 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8700 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8701 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8703 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8704 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8705 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8706 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8707 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8709 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8710 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8711 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8712 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8713 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8714 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8715 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8716 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8717 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8719 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8720 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8721 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8722 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8723 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8724 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8725 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8727 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8728 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8731 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8732 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8733 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8734 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8735 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8736 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8739 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8740 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8741 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8742 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8743 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8744 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8745 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8746 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8747 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8749 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8750 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8751 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8753 @cindex remote memory comparison
8754 @cindex verify remote memory image
8755 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8756 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8757 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8758 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8762 @kindex compare-sections
8763 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8764 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8765 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8766 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8767 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8768 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8773 @section Automatic Display
8774 @cindex automatic display
8775 @cindex display of expressions
8777 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8778 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8779 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8780 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8781 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8782 The automatic display looks like this:
8786 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8790 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8791 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8792 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8793 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8794 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8795 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8799 @item display @var{expr}
8800 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8801 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8803 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8805 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8806 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8807 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8808 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8809 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8811 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8812 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8813 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8814 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8815 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8818 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8819 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8820 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8823 @kindex delete display
8825 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8826 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8827 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8828 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8829 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8830 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8831 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8833 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8834 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8836 @kindex disable display
8837 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8838 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8839 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8840 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8841 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8842 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8843 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8844 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8846 @kindex enable display
8847 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8848 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8849 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8850 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8851 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8852 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8853 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8856 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8857 done when your program stops.
8859 @kindex info display
8861 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8862 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8863 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8864 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8865 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8868 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8869 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8870 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8871 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8872 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8873 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8874 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8875 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8876 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8877 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8878 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8880 @node Print Settings
8881 @section Print Settings
8883 @cindex format options
8884 @cindex print settings
8885 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8886 and symbols are printed.
8889 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8893 @item set print address
8894 @itemx set print address on
8895 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8896 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8897 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8898 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8899 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8900 @code{set print address on}:
8905 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8907 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8911 @item set print address off
8912 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8913 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8917 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8919 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8920 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8924 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8925 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8926 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8927 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8930 @item show print address
8931 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8934 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8935 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8936 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8937 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8938 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8939 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8940 it prints a symbolic address:
8943 @item set print symbol-filename on
8944 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8945 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8946 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8947 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8949 @item set print symbol-filename off
8950 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8953 @item show print symbol-filename
8954 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8955 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8958 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8959 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8960 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8962 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8963 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8966 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8967 @itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
8968 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8969 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8970 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8971 @var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
8972 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
8973 it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
8975 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8976 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8980 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8981 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8982 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8983 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8984 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8985 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8986 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8987 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8990 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8991 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8992 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8996 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8997 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8998 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
9001 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
9002 @samp{set print symbol on}:
9005 @item set print symbol on
9006 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
9009 @item set print symbol off
9010 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
9011 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
9012 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
9014 @item show print symbol
9015 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
9019 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
9022 @item set print array
9023 @itemx set print array on
9024 @cindex pretty print arrays
9025 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
9026 but uses more space. The default is off.
9028 @item set print array off
9029 Return to compressed format for arrays.
9031 @item show print array
9032 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
9035 @cindex print array indexes
9036 @item set print array-indexes
9037 @itemx set print array-indexes on
9038 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
9039 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
9040 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
9042 @item set print array-indexes off
9043 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
9045 @item show print array-indexes
9046 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
9049 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
9050 @itemx set print elements unlimited
9051 @cindex number of array elements to print
9052 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
9053 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
9054 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
9055 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
9056 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
9057 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
9058 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
9059 that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
9061 @item show print elements
9062 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
9063 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
9065 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
9066 @kindex set print frame-arguments
9067 @cindex printing frame argument values
9068 @cindex print all frame argument values
9069 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
9070 @cindex do not print frame argument values
9071 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
9072 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
9077 The values of all arguments are printed.
9080 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
9081 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
9082 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
9083 only scalar arguments are shown:
9086 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
9091 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
9092 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
9095 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
9100 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
9101 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
9102 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
9103 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
9104 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
9105 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
9106 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
9107 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
9108 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
9109 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
9111 @item show print frame-arguments
9112 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
9114 @item set print raw frame-arguments on
9115 Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
9117 @item set print raw frame-arguments off
9118 Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
9119 for the value (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
9120 otherwise print the value in raw form.
9121 This is the default.
9123 @item show print raw frame-arguments
9124 Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
9126 @anchor{set print entry-values}
9127 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
9128 @kindex set print entry-values
9129 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
9130 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
9131 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
9132 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
9133 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
9135 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
9136 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
9137 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
9140 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9141 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9142 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9145 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
9149 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
9153 #0 different (val=6)
9154 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
9156 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9160 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
9161 values are never printed.
9163 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9164 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9165 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9166 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9167 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9171 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
9172 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
9173 value for such parameter.
9175 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9176 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9177 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9179 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9183 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
9184 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
9188 #0 different (val=6)
9189 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9191 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9195 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
9196 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
9199 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
9200 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9201 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9202 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9203 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9207 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
9208 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
9209 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
9210 values are known and identical, print the shortened
9211 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9213 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9214 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9215 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9217 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9221 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
9222 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
9223 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
9224 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9226 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9227 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9228 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9230 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9234 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
9235 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
9237 @item show print entry-values
9238 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
9241 @item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
9242 @itemx set print repeats unlimited
9243 @cindex repeated array elements
9244 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
9245 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
9246 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
9247 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
9248 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
9249 themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
9250 cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
9253 @item show print repeats
9254 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
9257 @item set print null-stop
9258 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
9259 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
9260 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
9261 contain only short strings.
9264 @item show print null-stop
9265 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
9266 @sc{null} character.
9268 @item set print pretty on
9269 @cindex print structures in indented form
9270 @cindex indentation in structure display
9271 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
9272 per line, like this:
9287 @item set print pretty off
9288 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
9292 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
9293 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
9298 This is the default format.
9300 @item show print pretty
9301 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9303 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
9304 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9305 @cindex octal escapes in strings
9306 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9307 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9308 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9309 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9310 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9312 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
9313 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9314 international character sets, and is the default.
9316 @item show print sevenbit-strings
9317 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9319 @item set print union on
9320 @cindex unions in structures, printing
9321 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9322 and other unions. This is the default setting.
9324 @item set print union off
9325 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9326 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9329 @item show print union
9330 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9331 structures and other unions.
9333 For example, given the declarations
9336 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9337 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9338 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9349 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9353 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9356 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9360 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9363 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9367 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9373 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9376 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9377 @item set print demangle
9378 @itemx set print demangle on
9379 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9380 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9381 linkage. The default is on.
9383 @item show print demangle
9384 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9386 @item set print asm-demangle
9387 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
9388 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9389 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9392 @item show print asm-demangle
9393 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9396 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9397 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9398 @kindex set demangle-style
9399 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
9400 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9401 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9405 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9406 This is the default.
9409 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9412 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9415 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9418 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9419 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9420 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9421 require further enhancement to permit that.
9424 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9426 @item show demangle-style
9427 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
9429 @item set print object
9430 @itemx set print object on
9431 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
9432 @cindex display derived types
9433 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
9434 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
9435 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
9436 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
9437 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
9438 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
9439 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
9441 @item set print object off
9442 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
9443 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
9445 @item show print object
9446 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
9448 @item set print static-members
9449 @itemx set print static-members on
9450 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
9451 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
9453 @item set print static-members off
9454 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
9456 @item show print static-members
9457 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
9459 @item set print pascal_static-members
9460 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
9461 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
9462 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
9463 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
9465 @item set print pascal_static-members off
9466 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
9468 @item show print pascal_static-members
9469 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
9471 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
9472 @item set print vtbl
9473 @itemx set print vtbl on
9474 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
9475 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
9476 @cindex VTBL display
9477 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
9478 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9479 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9481 @item set print vtbl off
9482 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
9484 @item show print vtbl
9485 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
9488 @node Pretty Printing
9489 @section Pretty Printing
9491 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
9492 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
9493 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
9496 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
9497 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
9498 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
9501 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
9502 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
9504 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
9505 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
9506 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
9508 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
9509 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
9510 pretty-printers with their names.
9511 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
9512 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
9513 Each such subprinter has its own name.
9514 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
9516 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
9517 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
9518 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
9519 do anything special.
9521 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9525 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9529 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9530 when debugging that program.
9531 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9534 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9535 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9536 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9539 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9540 pretty-printers are selected,
9542 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9545 @node Pretty-Printer Example
9546 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9548 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9551 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9553 static npos = 4294967295,
9555 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9556 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9557 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9559 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9560 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9561 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9566 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9569 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9573 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
9574 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9575 @cindex pretty-printer commands
9578 @kindex info pretty-printer
9579 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9580 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9581 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9583 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9584 whose pretty-printers to list.
9585 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9586 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9587 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9588 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9589 looks up a printer from these three objects.
9591 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9594 @kindex disable pretty-printer
9595 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9596 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9597 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9599 @kindex enable pretty-printer
9600 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9601 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9606 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9607 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9608 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9609 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9612 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9619 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9624 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
9626 2 of 3 printers enabled
9627 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9634 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
9636 1 of 3 printers enabled
9637 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9644 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
9646 0 of 3 printers enabled
9647 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9656 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9657 as can each individual subprinter.
9660 @section Value History
9662 @cindex value history
9663 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9664 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9665 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9666 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9667 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9668 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9669 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9674 @cindex history number
9675 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9676 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9677 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9678 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9681 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9682 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9683 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9684 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9685 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9686 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9687 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9689 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9690 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9696 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9697 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9704 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9705 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9707 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9708 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9716 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9717 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9722 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9723 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9724 values} does not change the history.
9726 @item show values @var{n}
9727 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9730 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9731 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9734 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9735 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9737 @node Convenience Vars
9738 @section Convenience Variables
9740 @cindex convenience variables
9741 @cindex user-defined variables
9742 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9743 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9744 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9745 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9746 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9748 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9749 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9750 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9751 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9752 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9754 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9755 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9759 set $foo = *object_ptr
9763 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9766 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9767 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9768 value with another assignment at any time.
9770 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9771 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9772 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9773 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9776 @kindex show convenience
9777 @cindex show all user variables and functions
9778 @item show convenience
9779 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9780 as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9781 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9783 @kindex init-if-undefined
9784 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9785 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9786 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9787 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9788 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9789 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9790 override default values used in a command script.
9792 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9793 any side-effects do not occur.
9796 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9797 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9798 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9802 print bar[$i++]->contents
9806 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9808 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9809 values likely to be useful.
9812 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9814 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9815 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9816 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9817 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9818 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9819 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9820 to the type of @code{$__}.
9822 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9824 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9825 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9826 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9829 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9830 When the program being debugged terminates normally, @value{GDBN}
9831 automatically sets this variable to the exit code of the program, and
9832 resets @code{$_exitsignal} to @code{void}.
9835 @vindex $_exitsignal@r{, convenience variable}
9836 When the program being debugged dies due to an uncaught signal,
9837 @value{GDBN} automatically sets this variable to that signal's number,
9838 and resets @code{$_exitcode} to @code{void}.
9840 To distinguish between whether the program being debugged has exited
9841 (i.e., @code{$_exitcode} is not @code{void}) or signalled (i.e.,
9842 @code{$_exitsignal} is not @code{void}), the convenience function
9843 @code{$_isvoid} can be used (@pxref{Convenience Funs,, Convenience
9844 Functions}). For example, considering the following source code:
9850 main (int argc, char *argv[])
9857 A valid way of telling whether the program being debugged has exited
9858 or signalled would be:
9861 (@value{GDBP}) define has_exited_or_signalled
9862 Type commands for definition of ``has_exited_or_signalled''.
9863 End with a line saying just ``end''.
9864 >if $_isvoid ($_exitsignal)
9865 >echo The program has exited\n
9867 >echo The program has signalled\n
9873 Program terminated with signal SIGALRM, Alarm clock.
9874 The program no longer exists.
9875 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
9876 The program has signalled
9879 As can be seen, @value{GDBN} correctly informs that the program being
9880 debugged has signalled, since it calls @code{raise} and raises a
9881 @code{SIGALRM} signal. If the program being debugged had not called
9882 @code{raise}, then @value{GDBN} would report a normal exit:
9885 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
9886 The program has exited
9890 The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
9891 thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
9894 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9895 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9898 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9899 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9900 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9901 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9902 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9905 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9906 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9907 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9908 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9909 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9912 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9913 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9914 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9915 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9916 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9917 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9921 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9922 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9923 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9925 @node Convenience Funs
9926 @section Convenience Functions
9928 @cindex convenience functions
9929 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9930 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9931 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9932 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9935 These functions do not require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9936 @code{Python} support, which means that they are always available.
9940 @item $_isvoid (@var{expr})
9941 @findex $_isvoid@r{, convenience function}
9942 Return one if the expression @var{expr} is @code{void}. Otherwise it
9945 A @code{void} expression is an expression where the type of the result
9946 is @code{void}. For example, you can examine a convenience variable
9947 (see @ref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}) to check whether
9951 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
9953 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
9956 Starting program: ./a.out
9957 [Inferior 1 (process 29572) exited normally]
9958 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
9960 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
9964 In the example above, we used @code{$_isvoid} to check whether
9965 @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void} before and after the execution of the
9966 program being debugged. Before the execution there is no exit code to
9967 be examined, therefore @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void}. After the
9968 execution the program being debugged returned zero, therefore
9969 @code{$_exitcode} is zero, which means that it is not @code{void}
9972 The @code{void} expression can also be a call of a function from the
9973 program being debugged. For example, given the following function:
9982 The result of calling it inside @value{GDBN} is @code{void}:
9985 (@value{GDBP}) print foo ()
9987 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid (foo ())
9989 (@value{GDBP}) set $v = foo ()
9990 (@value{GDBP}) print $v
9992 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($v)
9998 These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9999 @code{Python} support.
10003 @item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
10004 @findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
10005 Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
10006 @var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
10007 Otherwise it returns zero.
10009 @item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
10010 @findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
10011 Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
10012 @var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10013 The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
10014 regular expression support.
10016 @item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
10017 @findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
10018 Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
10019 Otherwise it returns zero.
10021 @item $_strlen(@var{str})
10022 @findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
10023 Returns the length of string @var{str}.
10027 @value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
10028 convenience functions.
10031 @item help function
10032 @kindex help function
10033 @cindex show all convenience functions
10034 Print a list of all convenience functions.
10041 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
10042 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
10043 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
10047 @kindex info registers
10048 @item info registers
10049 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
10050 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10052 @kindex info all-registers
10053 @cindex floating point registers
10054 @item info all-registers
10055 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
10056 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10058 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
10059 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
10060 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
10061 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
10062 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
10065 @cindex stack pointer register
10066 @cindex program counter register
10067 @cindex process status register
10068 @cindex frame pointer register
10069 @cindex standard registers
10070 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
10071 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
10072 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
10073 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
10074 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
10075 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
10076 register that contains the processor status. For example,
10077 you could print the program counter in hex with
10084 or print the instruction to be executed next with
10091 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
10092 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
10093 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
10094 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
10095 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
10096 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
10097 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
10103 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
10104 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
10105 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
10106 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
10107 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
10108 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
10109 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
10111 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
10112 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
10113 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
10114 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
10115 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
10116 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
10117 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
10119 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
10120 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
10121 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
10122 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
10123 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
10124 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
10125 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
10126 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
10127 prints the data in both formats.
10129 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
10130 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
10131 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
10132 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
10133 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
10134 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
10135 registers in @code{struct} notation:
10138 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
10140 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
10141 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
10142 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
10143 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
10144 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
10145 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
10146 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
10151 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
10152 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
10153 value to a @code{struct} member:
10156 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
10159 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
10160 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
10161 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
10162 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
10163 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
10164 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
10166 @cindex caller-saved registers
10167 @cindex call-clobbered registers
10168 @cindex volatile registers
10169 @cindex <not saved> values
10170 Usually ABIs reserve some registers as not needed to be saved by the
10171 callee (a.k.a.: ``caller-saved'', ``call-clobbered'' or ``volatile''
10172 registers). It may therefore not be possible for @value{GDBN} to know
10173 the value a register had before the call (in other words, in the outer
10174 frame), if the register value has since been changed by the callee.
10175 @value{GDBN} tries to deduce where the inner frame saved
10176 (``callee-saved'') registers, from the debug info, unwind info, or the
10177 machine code generated by your compiler. If some register is not
10178 saved, and @value{GDBN} knows the register is ``caller-saved'' (via
10179 its own knowledge of the ABI, or because the debug/unwind info
10180 explicitly says the register's value is undefined), @value{GDBN}
10181 displays @w{@samp{<not saved>}} as the register's value. With targets
10182 that @value{GDBN} has no knowledge of the register saving convention,
10183 if a register was not saved by the callee, then its value and location
10184 in the outer frame are assumed to be the same of the inner frame.
10185 This is usually harmless, because if the register is call-clobbered,
10186 the caller either does not care what is in the register after the
10187 call, or has code to restore the value that it does care about. Note,
10188 however, that if you change such a register in the outer frame, you
10189 may also be affecting the inner frame. Also, the more ``outer'' the
10190 frame is you're looking at, the more likely a call-clobbered
10191 register's value is to be wrong, in the sense that it doesn't actually
10192 represent the value the register had just before the call.
10194 @node Floating Point Hardware
10195 @section Floating Point Hardware
10196 @cindex floating point
10198 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
10199 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
10204 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
10205 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
10206 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
10207 the ARM and x86 machines.
10211 @section Vector Unit
10212 @cindex vector unit
10214 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
10215 more information about the status of the vector unit.
10218 @kindex info vector
10220 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
10221 layout vary depending on the hardware.
10224 @node OS Information
10225 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
10226 @cindex OS information
10228 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
10229 you debug your program.
10231 @cindex auxiliary vector
10232 @cindex vector, auxiliary
10233 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
10234 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
10235 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
10236 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
10237 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
10238 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
10239 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
10240 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
10241 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
10242 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
10243 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
10248 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
10249 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
10250 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
10251 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
10252 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
10253 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
10254 an unrecognized tag.
10257 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
10258 information and show it to you. The types of information available
10259 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
10260 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
10261 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
10262 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
10263 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
10267 @item info os @var{infotype}
10269 Display OS information of the requested type.
10271 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
10273 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
10275 @kindex info os processes
10277 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
10278 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
10279 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
10280 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
10281 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
10282 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
10284 @kindex info os procgroups
10286 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
10287 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
10288 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
10289 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
10290 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
10291 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
10292 and the process group leader is listed first.
10294 @kindex info os threads
10296 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
10297 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
10298 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
10299 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
10300 process is not listed.
10302 @kindex info os files
10304 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
10305 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
10306 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
10307 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
10309 @kindex info os sockets
10311 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
10312 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
10313 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
10314 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
10317 @kindex info os shm
10319 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
10320 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
10321 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
10322 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
10323 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
10324 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
10325 attached to, detach from, and changed.
10327 @kindex info os semaphores
10329 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
10330 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
10331 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
10332 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
10333 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
10335 @kindex info os msg
10337 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
10338 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
10339 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
10340 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
10341 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
10342 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
10343 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
10344 the message queue was last changed.
10346 @kindex info os modules
10348 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
10349 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
10350 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
10351 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
10356 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
10357 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
10358 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
10359 types, this command will report an error.
10362 @node Memory Region Attributes
10363 @section Memory Region Attributes
10364 @cindex memory region attributes
10366 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
10367 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
10368 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
10369 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
10370 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
10371 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
10372 user can override the fetched regions.
10374 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
10375 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
10376 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
10377 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
10380 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
10381 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
10385 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
10386 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
10387 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
10388 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
10389 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
10390 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
10393 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
10394 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
10397 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10398 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
10399 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
10401 @kindex disable mem
10402 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10403 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10404 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
10405 It may be enabled again later.
10408 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10409 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10413 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
10417 @item Memory Region Number
10418 @item Enabled or Disabled.
10419 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
10420 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
10423 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
10426 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
10429 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
10434 @subsection Attributes
10436 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
10437 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
10438 write accesses to a memory region.
10440 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
10441 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
10442 etc.@: from accessing memory.
10446 Memory is read only.
10448 Memory is write only.
10450 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
10453 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
10454 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
10455 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
10456 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
10457 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
10461 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
10463 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
10465 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
10467 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
10470 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
10471 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10472 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
10473 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
10477 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
10478 @c @item swbreak (default)
10481 @subsubsection Data Cache
10482 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
10483 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
10484 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
10485 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
10490 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
10492 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
10495 @subsection Memory Access Checking
10496 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
10497 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
10498 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
10499 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
10502 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
10503 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
10504 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
10505 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
10506 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
10507 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
10508 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
10509 The default value is @code{on}.
10510 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
10511 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
10512 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
10516 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
10517 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10518 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
10522 @c @item noverify (default)
10525 @node Dump/Restore Files
10526 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
10527 @cindex dump/restore files
10528 @cindex append data to a file
10529 @cindex dump data to a file
10530 @cindex restore data from a file
10532 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
10533 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
10534 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
10535 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
10536 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
10537 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
10543 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10544 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10545 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10546 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
10548 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
10555 Motorola S-record format.
10557 Tektronix Hex format.
10560 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
10561 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
10562 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
10566 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10567 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10568 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10569 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
10570 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
10573 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
10574 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
10575 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
10576 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
10577 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
10579 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
10580 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
10581 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
10582 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
10583 from that location.
10585 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
10586 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
10587 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
10588 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
10592 @node Core File Generation
10593 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
10594 @cindex dump core from inferior
10596 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
10597 image of a running process and its process status (register values
10598 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
10599 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
10600 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
10601 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
10602 the post-mortem debugging mode.
10604 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
10605 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
10606 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
10610 @kindex generate-core-file
10611 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
10612 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
10613 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
10614 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
10615 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
10616 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
10618 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
10619 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
10622 @node Character Sets
10623 @section Character Sets
10624 @cindex character sets
10626 @cindex translating between character sets
10627 @cindex host character set
10628 @cindex target character set
10630 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
10631 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
10632 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
10633 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
10634 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
10635 @dfn{target character set}.
10637 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
10638 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
10639 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
10640 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
10641 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
10642 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
10643 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
10644 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
10645 character and string literals in expressions.
10647 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10648 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10649 target-charset} command, described below.
10651 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10655 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
10656 @kindex set target-charset
10657 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10658 list of supported target character sets, type
10659 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10661 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
10662 @kindex set host-charset
10663 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10665 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10666 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10667 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10668 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10669 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10671 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10672 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10673 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10675 @item set charset @var{charset}
10676 @kindex set charset
10677 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10678 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10679 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10680 for both host and target.
10683 @kindex show charset
10684 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10686 @item show host-charset
10687 @kindex show host-charset
10688 Show the name of the current host character set.
10690 @item show target-charset
10691 @kindex show target-charset
10692 Show the name of the current target character set.
10694 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10695 @kindex set target-wide-charset
10696 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10697 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10698 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10699 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10701 @item show target-wide-charset
10702 @kindex show target-wide-charset
10703 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10706 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10707 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10708 @file{charset-test.c}:
10714 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10715 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10716 char ibm1047_hello[]
10717 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10718 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10722 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10726 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10727 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10728 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10730 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10733 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10734 $ gdb -nw charset-test
10735 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10736 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10741 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10742 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10746 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10747 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10751 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10752 initial character set:
10754 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10755 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10756 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10760 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10761 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10762 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10763 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10764 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10767 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10768 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10769 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10774 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10775 literals you use in expressions:
10778 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10783 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10786 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10787 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10788 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10791 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10792 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10793 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10798 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10799 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10802 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10803 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10804 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10807 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10808 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10809 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10810 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10811 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10814 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10815 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10816 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10817 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10818 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10819 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10820 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10822 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10823 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10824 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10829 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10830 string literals you use in expressions:
10833 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10838 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10841 @node Caching Target Data
10842 @section Caching Data of Targets
10843 @cindex caching data of targets
10845 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a target.
10846 Each cache is associated with the address space of the inferior.
10847 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}, about inferior and address space.
10848 Such caching generally improves performance in remote debugging
10849 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), because it reduces the overhead of the
10850 remote protocol by bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks.
10851 Unfortunately, simply caching everything would lead to incorrect results,
10852 since @value{GDBN} does not necessarily know anything about volatile
10853 values, memory-mapped I/O addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode
10854 (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command
10856 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10857 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10858 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10859 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10860 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.} or
10861 in the code segment.
10862 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10863 cacheable; @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10866 @kindex set remotecache
10867 @item set remotecache on
10868 @itemx set remotecache off
10869 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10872 @kindex show remotecache
10873 @item show remotecache
10874 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10876 @kindex set stack-cache
10877 @item set stack-cache on
10878 @itemx set stack-cache off
10879 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{on}, use
10880 caching. By default, this option is @code{on}.
10882 @kindex show stack-cache
10883 @item show stack-cache
10884 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10886 @kindex set code-cache
10887 @item set code-cache on
10888 @itemx set code-cache off
10889 Enable or disable caching of code segment accesses. When @code{on},
10890 use caching. By default, this option is @code{on}. This improves
10891 performance of disassembly in remote debugging.
10893 @kindex show code-cache
10894 @item show code-cache
10895 Show the current state of target memory cache for code segment
10898 @kindex info dcache
10899 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10900 Print the information about the performance of data cache of the
10901 current inferior's address space. The information displayed
10902 includes the dcache width and depth, and for each cache line, its
10903 number, address, and how many times it was referenced. This
10904 command is useful for debugging the data cache operation.
10906 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10909 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10910 @cindex dcache size
10911 @kindex set dcache size
10912 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10914 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10915 @cindex dcache line-size
10916 @kindex set dcache line-size
10917 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10918 Must be a power of 2.
10920 @item show dcache size
10921 @kindex show dcache size
10922 Show maximum number of dcache entries. @xref{Caching Target Data, info dcache}.
10924 @item show dcache line-size
10925 @kindex show dcache line-size
10926 Show default size of dcache lines.
10930 @node Searching Memory
10931 @section Search Memory
10932 @cindex searching memory
10934 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10935 @code{find} command.
10939 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10940 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10941 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10942 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10943 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10946 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10947 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10950 @item @var{s}, search query size
10951 The size of each search query value.
10957 halfwords (two bytes)
10961 giant words (eight bytes)
10964 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10965 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10966 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10968 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10969 value's type in the current language.
10970 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10971 pattern as a mixture of types.
10972 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10973 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10974 which is typically four bytes.
10976 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10977 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10980 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10982 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10983 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10985 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10986 number of matches found.
10988 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10990 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10992 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10998 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10999 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
11000 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
11001 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
11002 printf ("%s\n", hello);
11007 you get during debugging:
11010 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
11011 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
11013 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
11014 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
11015 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
11017 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
11018 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
11020 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
11021 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
11023 (gdb) print $numfound
11026 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
11029 @node Optimized Code
11030 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
11031 @cindex optimized code, debugging
11032 @cindex debugging optimized code
11034 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
11035 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
11036 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
11037 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
11038 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
11039 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
11040 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
11042 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
11043 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
11044 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
11045 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
11047 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
11048 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
11049 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
11050 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
11051 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
11052 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
11054 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
11055 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
11056 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
11057 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
11058 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
11061 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
11062 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
11065 @node Inline Functions
11066 @section Inline Functions
11067 @cindex inline functions, debugging
11069 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
11070 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
11071 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
11072 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
11073 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
11074 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
11075 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
11076 @code{info frame} command.
11078 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
11079 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
11080 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
11081 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
11082 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
11083 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
11084 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
11085 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
11086 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
11087 local variables in the caller.
11089 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
11090 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
11091 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
11092 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
11093 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
11094 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
11095 instructions are executed.
11097 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
11098 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
11099 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
11100 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
11102 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
11103 function calls are the same as normal calls:
11107 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
11108 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
11109 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
11110 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
11111 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
11112 or inside the inlined function instead.
11115 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
11116 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
11117 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
11118 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
11122 @node Tail Call Frames
11123 @section Tail Call Frames
11124 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
11126 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
11127 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
11128 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
11129 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
11130 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
11132 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
11133 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
11134 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
11135 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
11136 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
11137 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
11138 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
11140 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
11141 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
11142 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
11145 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
11146 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
11150 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
11152 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
11153 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
11154 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
11155 source language c++.
11156 Arglist at unknown address.
11157 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
11160 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
11161 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
11162 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
11163 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
11164 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
11165 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
11168 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
11169 @item set debug entry-values
11170 @kindex set debug entry-values
11171 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
11172 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
11173 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
11174 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
11177 @item show debug entry-values
11178 @kindex show debug entry-values
11179 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
11180 values at function entry and tail calls.
11183 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
11184 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
11185 reference by variable @code{x}):
11188 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
11189 void (*x) (void) = c;
11190 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11191 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
11192 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
11194 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
11195 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
11197 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11200 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
11203 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
11207 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
11208 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
11209 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
11210 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
11211 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
11212 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
11213 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
11214 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
11216 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
11217 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
11218 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
11221 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
11222 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
11225 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
11226 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
11228 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
11229 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11230 @set ARROW @click{}
11231 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
11232 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
11234 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11236 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
11237 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
11240 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
11241 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
11242 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
11244 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
11245 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
11246 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
11247 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
11248 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
11249 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
11251 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
11252 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
11253 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
11254 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
11257 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
11262 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
11263 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
11264 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
11265 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
11266 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
11267 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
11270 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
11271 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
11272 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
11273 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
11274 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
11277 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
11278 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
11279 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
11280 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
11281 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
11284 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
11286 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
11287 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
11288 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
11289 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
11290 where it was defined.
11292 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
11293 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
11294 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
11295 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
11297 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
11298 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
11299 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
11300 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
11301 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
11302 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
11305 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
11306 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
11307 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
11311 @kindex macro expand
11312 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
11313 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
11314 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
11315 @item macro expand @var{expression}
11316 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
11317 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
11318 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
11319 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
11320 it can be any string of tokens.
11323 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
11324 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
11325 @cindex expand macro once
11326 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
11327 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
11328 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
11329 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
11330 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
11331 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
11332 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
11333 can be any string of tokens.
11336 @cindex macro definition, showing
11337 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
11338 @cindex macros, from debug info
11339 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
11340 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
11341 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
11342 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
11343 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
11344 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
11346 @kindex info macros
11347 @item info macros @var{linespec}
11348 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
11349 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
11350 command-line where those definitions were established.
11352 @kindex macro define
11353 @cindex user-defined macros
11354 @cindex defining macros interactively
11355 @cindex macros, user-defined
11356 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
11357 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
11358 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
11359 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
11360 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
11361 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
11362 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
11365 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
11366 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
11367 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
11368 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
11369 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
11371 @kindex macro undef
11372 @item macro undef @var{macro}
11373 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
11374 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
11375 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
11376 in the program being debugged.
11380 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
11383 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
11384 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
11385 show our source files:
11390 #include "sample.h"
11393 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11398 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11400 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11402 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11409 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
11410 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
11411 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
11412 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
11413 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
11414 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
11418 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
11422 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
11426 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
11427 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11428 GDB is free software, @dots{}
11432 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
11433 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
11434 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
11437 (@value{GDBP}) list main
11440 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11445 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11447 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11448 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
11449 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
11450 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11451 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
11452 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
11453 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
11455 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
11456 expands to: (42 + 1)
11457 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
11458 expands to: once (M + 1)
11462 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
11463 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
11464 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
11465 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
11467 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
11468 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
11471 (@value{GDBP}) break main
11472 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
11474 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
11476 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
11477 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11481 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
11484 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11485 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
11487 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11488 expands to: 28 < 42
11489 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11494 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
11495 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
11496 thereof) in force at each point:
11499 (@value{GDBP}) next
11501 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11502 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11503 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
11504 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
11505 (@value{GDBP}) next
11507 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11508 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11509 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
11511 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11512 expands to: 1729 < 42
11513 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11518 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
11519 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
11520 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
11521 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
11524 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
11525 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
11532 @chapter Tracepoints
11533 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
11534 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
11536 @cindex tracepoints
11537 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
11538 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
11539 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
11540 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
11541 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
11542 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
11543 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
11545 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
11546 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
11547 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
11548 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
11549 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
11550 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
11551 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
11552 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
11553 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
11554 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
11555 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
11557 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
11558 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
11559 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
11560 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
11561 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
11562 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
11565 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
11566 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
11567 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
11569 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
11572 * Set Tracepoints::
11573 * Analyze Collected Data::
11574 * Tracepoint Variables::
11578 @node Set Tracepoints
11579 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
11581 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
11582 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
11583 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
11584 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
11585 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
11586 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
11587 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
11589 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
11590 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
11591 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
11592 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
11593 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
11594 tracepoint was hit.
11596 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
11597 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
11598 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
11601 @cindex fast tracepoints
11602 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
11603 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
11604 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
11606 @cindex static tracepoints
11607 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
11608 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
11609 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
11610 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
11611 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
11612 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
11613 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
11614 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
11615 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
11616 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
11617 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
11618 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
11619 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
11620 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
11621 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
11622 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
11623 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
11624 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
11625 static tracepoint marker.
11627 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
11628 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
11630 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
11631 conditions and actions.
11634 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
11635 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
11636 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
11637 * Tracepoint Conditions::
11638 * Trace State Variables::
11639 * Tracepoint Actions::
11640 * Listing Tracepoints::
11641 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
11642 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
11643 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
11646 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
11647 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
11650 @cindex set tracepoint
11652 @item trace @var{location}
11653 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
11654 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
11655 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
11656 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
11657 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
11658 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
11659 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
11660 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
11662 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
11663 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11664 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11665 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11666 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11667 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11668 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11669 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11670 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11671 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11672 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11673 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11675 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11678 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11680 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11682 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11684 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11686 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11690 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11692 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11693 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11694 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11695 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11696 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11697 information on tracepoint conditions.
11699 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11700 @cindex set fast tracepoint
11701 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11703 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11704 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11705 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11706 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11707 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11708 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11711 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11714 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11715 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11716 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11717 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11718 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11719 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11720 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11721 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11724 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11728 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11729 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11731 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11732 @cindex set static tracepoint
11733 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
11734 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11736 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11737 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11738 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11739 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11740 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11742 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11743 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11744 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11745 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11746 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11747 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11748 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11749 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11750 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11756 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11761 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11762 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11765 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11766 Cnt Enb ID Address What
11767 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11773 so you may probe the marker above with:
11776 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11779 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11780 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11781 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11782 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11783 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11784 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11785 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11786 the @samp{Data:} field.
11788 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11789 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11790 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11793 @cindex last tracepoint number
11794 @cindex recent tracepoint number
11795 @cindex tracepoint number
11796 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11797 of the most recently set tracepoint.
11799 @kindex delete tracepoint
11800 @cindex tracepoint deletion
11801 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11802 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11803 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11804 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11809 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11811 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11815 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11818 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11819 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11821 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11824 @kindex disable tracepoint
11825 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11826 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11827 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11828 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11829 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11830 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11831 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11832 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11833 next trace experiment.
11835 @kindex enable tracepoint
11836 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11837 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11838 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11839 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11840 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11841 next time a trace experiment is run.
11844 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
11845 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11849 @cindex tracepoint pass count
11850 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11851 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11852 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11853 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11854 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11855 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11856 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11857 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11863 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11864 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11866 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11867 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11868 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11869 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11870 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11871 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11872 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11873 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11874 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11875 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11876 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11880 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11881 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11882 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11883 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11885 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11886 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11887 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11888 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11889 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11890 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11893 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11894 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11895 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11896 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11897 just as with breakpoints.
11899 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11900 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11901 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11902 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11903 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11904 accesses, and so forth.
11906 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11907 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11908 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11909 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11910 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11911 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11915 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11918 @node Trace State Variables
11919 @subsection Trace State Variables
11920 @cindex trace state variables
11922 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11923 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11924 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11925 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11926 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11929 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11930 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11931 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11932 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11934 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11935 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11936 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11937 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11938 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11939 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11940 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11941 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11942 variable with the same name.
11946 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11948 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11949 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11950 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11951 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11952 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11953 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11954 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11955 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11956 value. The default initial value is 0.
11958 @item info tvariables
11959 @kindex info tvariables
11960 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11961 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11964 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11965 @kindex delete tvariable
11966 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11971 @node Tracepoint Actions
11972 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11976 @cindex tracepoint actions
11977 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11978 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11979 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11980 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11981 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11982 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11983 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11984 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11985 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11986 @code{while-stepping}.
11988 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11989 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11990 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11992 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11993 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11994 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11997 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11999 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
12001 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
12004 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
12005 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
12006 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
12007 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
12008 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
12009 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
12010 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
12011 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
12014 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
12015 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12016 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
12019 > while-stepping 12
12020 > collect $pc, arr[i]
12025 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
12026 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12027 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
12028 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
12029 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
12030 special arguments are supported:
12034 Collect all registers.
12037 Collect all function arguments.
12040 Collect all local variables.
12043 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
12047 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
12048 tracepoint is located.
12049 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
12051 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
12052 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
12053 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
12054 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
12057 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
12058 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
12059 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
12060 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
12061 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
12062 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
12063 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
12064 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
12065 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
12068 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
12069 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
12072 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
12073 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
12074 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
12078 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
12079 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
12080 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
12082 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
12083 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
12084 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
12085 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
12086 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
12087 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
12088 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
12091 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
12092 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
12094 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
12095 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12096 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
12097 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
12098 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
12099 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
12100 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
12103 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
12104 @item while-stepping @var{n}
12105 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
12106 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
12107 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
12108 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
12111 > while-stepping 12
12112 > collect $regs, myglobal
12118 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
12119 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
12120 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
12123 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12124 @kindex set default-collect
12125 @cindex default collection action
12126 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
12127 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
12128 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
12129 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
12130 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
12131 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
12133 @item show default-collect
12134 @kindex show default-collect
12135 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
12140 @node Listing Tracepoints
12141 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
12144 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12145 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12146 @cindex information about tracepoints
12147 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
12148 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
12149 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
12150 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
12151 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
12152 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
12154 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
12159 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
12162 the state about installed on target of each location
12166 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
12167 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
12168 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
12170 collect globfoo, $regs
12175 2 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
12177 2.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12178 installed on target
12179 2.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12180 installed on target
12181 2.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
12182 3 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
12183 not installed on target
12188 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
12191 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12192 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12195 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
12196 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
12197 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
12198 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
12201 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
12205 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
12208 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
12209 @item Enabled or Disabled
12210 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
12211 that are not enabled.
12213 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
12215 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
12216 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
12217 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
12218 will be left blank.
12222 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
12226 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
12227 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
12229 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
12230 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
12234 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12235 Cnt ID Enb Address What
12236 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
12237 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
12238 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
12239 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
12245 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12246 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12249 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
12250 @cindex start a new trace experiment
12251 @cindex collected data discarded
12253 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
12254 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
12255 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
12256 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
12257 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
12258 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
12259 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
12260 information, and so forth.
12262 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
12263 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
12265 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
12266 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
12267 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
12268 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
12269 needs to be stopped quickly.
12271 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
12272 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
12273 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
12276 @cindex status of trace data collection
12277 @cindex trace experiment, status of
12279 This command displays the status of the current trace data
12283 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
12286 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
12287 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12288 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
12289 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
12290 > while-stepping 11
12294 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12295 [time passes @dots{}]
12296 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
12299 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
12300 @cindex disconnected tracing
12301 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
12302 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
12303 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
12304 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
12305 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
12306 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
12307 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
12308 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
12311 @item set disconnected-tracing on
12312 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
12313 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
12314 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
12315 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
12316 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
12317 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
12318 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
12320 @item show disconnected-tracing
12321 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
12322 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
12326 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
12327 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
12328 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
12329 it will continue after reconnection.
12331 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
12332 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
12333 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
12334 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
12335 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
12336 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
12337 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
12338 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
12339 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
12340 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
12342 @cindex circular trace buffer
12343 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
12344 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
12345 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
12346 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
12347 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
12348 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
12349 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
12350 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
12351 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
12352 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
12356 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
12357 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
12358 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
12359 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
12360 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
12361 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
12362 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
12364 @item show circular-trace-buffer
12365 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
12366 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
12367 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
12368 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
12369 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
12374 @item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
12375 @itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
12376 @kindex set trace-buffer-size
12377 Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
12378 targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
12379 the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
12380 @code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
12381 likes. This is also the default.
12383 @item show trace-buffer-size
12384 @kindex show trace-buffer-size
12385 Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
12386 will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
12387 and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
12388 target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
12389 not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
12390 to get a report of the actual buffer size.
12394 @item set trace-user @var{text}
12395 @kindex set trace-user
12397 @item show trace-user
12398 @kindex show trace-user
12400 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
12401 @kindex set trace-notes
12402 Set the trace run's notes.
12404 @item show trace-notes
12405 @kindex show trace-notes
12406 Show the trace run's notes.
12408 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
12409 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
12410 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
12411 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
12412 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
12414 @item show trace-stop-notes
12415 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
12416 Show the trace run's stop notes.
12420 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
12421 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
12423 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
12424 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
12425 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
12426 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
12427 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
12428 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
12429 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
12430 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
12436 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
12437 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
12438 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
12439 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
12440 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
12441 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
12442 cannot be collected either.
12445 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
12446 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
12447 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
12448 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
12449 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
12450 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
12451 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
12452 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
12453 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
12454 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
12457 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
12458 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
12459 in a misleading way.
12462 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
12463 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
12464 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
12465 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
12466 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
12467 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
12468 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
12472 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
12473 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
12474 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
12475 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
12476 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
12477 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
12478 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
12479 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
12480 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
12481 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
12485 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
12486 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
12487 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
12488 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
12489 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
12490 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
12491 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
12496 @node Analyze Collected Data
12497 @section Using the Collected Data
12499 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
12500 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
12501 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
12502 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
12503 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
12504 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
12505 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
12506 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
12507 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
12508 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
12509 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
12510 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
12511 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
12512 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
12513 the buffer will fail.
12516 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
12517 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
12518 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
12522 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
12525 @cindex select trace snapshot
12526 @cindex find trace snapshot
12527 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
12528 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
12529 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
12530 snapshot is selected.
12532 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
12536 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
12537 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
12540 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
12543 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
12546 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
12549 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
12550 retracing earlier steps.
12552 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
12553 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
12554 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
12555 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
12556 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
12558 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
12559 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
12560 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
12561 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
12562 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
12564 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12565 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
12566 addresses (exclusive).
12568 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12569 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
12570 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
12572 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
12573 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
12574 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
12575 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
12576 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
12577 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
12578 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
12579 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
12582 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
12583 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
12584 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
12585 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
12586 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
12587 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
12588 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
12589 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
12590 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
12591 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
12592 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
12593 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
12594 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
12595 tracepoint as the current one.
12597 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
12598 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
12599 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
12600 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
12601 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
12604 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12605 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12606 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
12607 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
12611 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
12612 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
12613 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
12614 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
12615 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
12616 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
12617 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
12618 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
12619 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
12620 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
12621 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
12624 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
12628 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12629 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12630 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
12640 @subsection @code{tdump}
12642 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
12643 @cindex tracepoint data, display
12645 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
12646 the current trace snapshot.
12649 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
12650 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12651 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
12652 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
12655 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12657 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
12658 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
12660 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
12662 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
12663 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
12664 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
12668 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
12671 d7 0x380035 3670069
12672 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
12673 a1 0x3000668 50333288
12675 a3 0x322000 3284992
12676 a4 0x3000698 50333336
12677 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
12678 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
12679 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
12681 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
12685 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
12692 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
12697 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12698 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12699 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12700 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12702 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12703 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12704 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12705 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12706 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12707 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12708 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12709 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12710 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12711 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12713 @node save tracepoints
12714 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12715 @kindex save tracepoints
12716 @kindex save-tracepoints
12717 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12719 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12720 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12721 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12722 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12723 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12724 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12726 @node Tracepoint Variables
12727 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12728 @cindex tracepoint variables
12729 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12732 @vindex $trace_frame
12733 @item (int) $trace_frame
12734 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12735 snapshot is selected.
12737 @vindex $tracepoint
12738 @item (int) $tracepoint
12739 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12741 @vindex $trace_line
12742 @item (int) $trace_line
12743 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12745 @vindex $trace_file
12746 @item (char []) $trace_file
12747 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12749 @vindex $trace_func
12750 @item (char []) $trace_func
12751 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12754 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12755 use @code{output} instead.
12757 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12758 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12759 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12760 which are managed by the target.
12763 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12765 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12766 > output $trace_file
12767 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12773 @section Using Trace Files
12774 @cindex trace files
12776 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
12777 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
12778 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
12779 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
12780 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
12785 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
12786 @itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
12787 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
12788 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
12789 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
12790 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12791 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12792 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12793 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12794 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12795 By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
12796 You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
12797 format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
12798 that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
12799 @indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
12801 @kindex target tfile
12805 @item target tfile @var{filename}
12806 @itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
12807 Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
12808 a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
12809 a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
12810 @code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
12811 the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
12812 @var{filename} or @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
12816 (@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
12817 (@value{GDBP}) tfind
12818 Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
12819 39 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
12820 (@value{GDBP}) tdump
12821 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
12825 c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
12826 d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
12834 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12837 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12838 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12839 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12843 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12844 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12845 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12846 mapped by asking the inferior.
12847 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12850 @node How Overlays Work
12851 @section How Overlays Work
12852 @cindex mapped overlays
12853 @cindex unmapped overlays
12854 @cindex load address, overlay's
12855 @cindex mapped address
12856 @cindex overlay area
12858 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12859 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12860 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12861 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12862 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12864 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12865 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12866 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12867 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12868 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12869 largest overlay as well.
12871 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12872 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12873 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12876 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12877 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12878 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12882 Data Instruction Larger
12883 Address Space Address Space Address Space
12884 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12886 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12887 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12888 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
12889 | and heap | | | | | |
12890 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12891 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
12892 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12894 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12895 address | | | | | |
12896 | overlay | <-' | | |
12897 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12898 | | <---. | | load address
12899 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12906 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12910 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12911 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12912 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12913 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12914 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12915 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12916 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12917 program and the overlay area.
12919 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12920 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12921 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12922 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12923 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12924 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12925 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12927 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12928 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12929 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12934 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12935 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12936 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12937 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12940 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12941 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12942 your program's performance.
12945 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12946 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12947 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12948 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12949 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12950 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12951 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12954 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12955 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12956 instruction and data spaces.
12960 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12961 improved in many ways:
12966 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12967 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12968 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12969 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12970 area in the usual way.
12973 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12974 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12977 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12978 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12979 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12980 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12981 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12982 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12983 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12988 @node Overlay Commands
12989 @section Overlay Commands
12991 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12992 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12993 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12994 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12995 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12996 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12998 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12999 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
13004 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
13005 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
13006 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
13007 overlay support is disabled.
13009 @item overlay manual
13010 @cindex manual overlay debugging
13011 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13012 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
13013 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
13014 commands described below.
13016 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
13017 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
13018 @cindex map an overlay
13019 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
13020 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
13021 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
13022 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
13023 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
13024 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
13026 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
13027 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
13028 @cindex unmap an overlay
13029 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
13030 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
13031 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
13032 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
13035 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13036 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
13037 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
13038 Overlay Debugging}.
13040 @item overlay load-target
13041 @itemx overlay load
13042 @cindex reloading the overlay table
13043 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
13044 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
13045 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
13046 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
13047 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
13049 @item overlay list-overlays
13050 @itemx overlay list
13051 @cindex listing mapped overlays
13052 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
13053 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
13057 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
13058 of the function the address falls in:
13061 (@value{GDBP}) print main
13062 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
13065 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
13066 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
13067 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
13068 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
13071 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13072 No sections are mapped.
13073 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
13074 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
13077 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
13081 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13082 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
13083 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
13084 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
13085 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
13088 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
13089 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
13090 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
13091 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
13092 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
13096 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
13097 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
13098 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
13099 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
13101 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
13102 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
13103 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
13104 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
13105 breakpoints properly.
13109 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
13110 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
13111 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
13113 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
13114 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
13115 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
13116 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
13117 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
13118 current state of the overlays.
13120 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
13121 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
13125 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
13126 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
13131 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
13134 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
13135 unsigned long size;
13137 /* The overlay's load address. */
13140 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
13142 unsigned long mapped;
13146 @item @code{_novlys}:
13147 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
13148 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
13152 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
13153 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
13154 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
13155 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
13156 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
13159 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
13160 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
13161 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
13162 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
13163 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
13164 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
13165 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
13166 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
13167 are not being executed.
13169 @node Overlay Sample Program
13170 @section Overlay Sample Program
13171 @cindex overlay example program
13173 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
13174 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
13175 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
13176 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
13177 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
13178 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
13179 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
13181 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
13182 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
13183 suite. The program consists of the following files from
13184 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
13188 The main program file.
13190 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
13195 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
13198 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
13199 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
13202 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
13203 cross-compiler like this:
13206 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
13207 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
13208 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
13209 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
13210 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
13211 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
13212 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
13213 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
13216 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
13217 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
13218 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
13222 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
13225 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
13226 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
13227 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
13228 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
13229 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
13230 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
13232 @cindex working language
13233 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
13234 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
13235 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
13236 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
13237 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
13241 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
13242 * Show:: Displaying the language
13243 * Checks:: Type and range checks
13244 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
13245 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
13249 @section Switching Between Source Languages
13251 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
13252 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
13253 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
13254 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
13255 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
13258 In addition to the working language, every source file that
13259 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
13260 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
13261 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
13262 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
13263 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
13264 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
13265 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
13266 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
13267 Displaying the Language}.
13269 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
13270 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
13271 another language. In that case, make the
13272 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
13273 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
13274 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
13277 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
13278 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
13279 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
13283 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
13285 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
13286 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
13304 C@t{++} source file
13310 Objective-C source file
13314 Fortran source file
13317 Modula-2 source file
13321 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
13322 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
13325 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
13326 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
13329 @subsection Setting the Working Language
13331 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
13332 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
13335 @kindex set language
13336 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
13337 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
13338 a language, such as
13339 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
13340 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
13342 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
13343 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
13344 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
13345 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
13346 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
13347 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
13355 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
13356 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
13357 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
13358 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
13360 @node Automatically
13361 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
13363 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
13364 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
13365 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
13366 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
13367 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
13368 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
13369 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
13370 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
13371 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
13373 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
13374 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
13375 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
13376 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
13377 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
13380 @section Displaying the Language
13382 The following commands help you find out which language is the
13383 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
13386 @item show language
13387 @anchor{show language}
13388 @kindex show language
13389 Display the current working language. This is the
13390 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
13391 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
13394 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
13395 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
13396 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
13397 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
13398 information listed here.
13401 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
13402 Display the source language of this source file.
13403 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
13404 information listed here.
13407 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
13408 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
13409 with a language explicitly:
13412 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
13413 @kindex set extension-language
13414 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
13415 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
13417 @item info extensions
13418 @kindex info extensions
13419 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
13423 @section Type and Range Checking
13425 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
13426 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
13427 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
13428 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
13429 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
13430 by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
13431 errors when your program is running.
13433 By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
13434 rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
13435 the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
13436 into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
13439 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
13440 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
13443 @cindex type checking
13444 @cindex checks, type
13445 @node Type Checking
13446 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
13448 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
13449 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
13450 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
13451 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
13454 int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
13456 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
13459 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
13460 Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
13463 The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
13464 @samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
13466 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13467 @value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
13468 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
13469 When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
13470 expressions like the second example above.
13472 Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
13473 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
13474 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
13475 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
13476 with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
13477 little sense to evaluate anyway.
13479 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
13481 @kindex set check type
13482 @kindex show check type
13484 @item set check type on
13485 @itemx set check type off
13486 Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
13487 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
13488 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
13490 @item show check type
13491 Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
13492 is enforcing strict type checking rules.
13495 @cindex range checking
13496 @cindex checks, range
13497 @node Range Checking
13498 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
13500 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
13501 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
13502 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
13503 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
13504 not exceed the bounds of the array.
13506 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13507 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
13508 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
13509 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
13511 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
13512 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
13513 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
13514 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
13515 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
13516 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
13519 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
13522 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
13523 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
13524 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
13526 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
13528 @kindex set check range
13529 @kindex show check range
13531 @item set check range auto
13532 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
13533 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
13536 @item set check range on
13537 @itemx set check range off
13538 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
13539 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
13540 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
13541 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
13543 @item set check range warn
13544 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
13545 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
13546 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
13547 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
13551 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
13552 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
13555 @node Supported Languages
13556 @section Supported Languages
13558 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
13559 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
13560 @c This is false ...
13561 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
13562 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
13563 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
13564 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
13567 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
13568 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
13569 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
13570 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
13571 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
13572 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
13573 language reference or tutorial.
13576 * C:: C and C@t{++}
13579 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
13580 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
13581 * Fortran:: Fortran
13583 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
13588 @subsection C and C@t{++}
13590 @cindex C and C@t{++}
13591 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
13593 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
13594 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
13598 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
13599 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
13600 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
13601 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
13602 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
13603 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
13604 compiler (@code{aCC}).
13607 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
13608 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
13609 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
13610 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
13611 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
13612 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
13613 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
13614 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
13618 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
13620 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
13622 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13623 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13624 often defined on groups of types.
13626 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
13631 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
13632 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
13635 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
13636 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
13639 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
13642 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
13647 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
13648 in order of increasing precedence:
13652 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
13653 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
13654 expression being the last expression evaluated.
13657 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
13658 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
13661 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
13662 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
13663 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
13664 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
13665 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
13668 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
13669 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
13673 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13676 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13679 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13682 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13685 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13688 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
13689 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
13691 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
13692 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
13693 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
13694 and non-zero for true.
13697 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
13700 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13703 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
13706 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
13707 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
13708 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
13712 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
13713 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
13714 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
13715 operation takes place.
13718 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
13722 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13724 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13725 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13726 to examine the address
13727 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13731 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13732 precedence as @code{++}.
13735 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13739 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13744 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13745 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13746 pointer based on the stored type information.
13747 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13750 Dereferences of pointers to members.
13753 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13754 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13757 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13760 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13761 and @code{class} types.
13764 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13765 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13769 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
13770 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
13771 predefined meaning.
13774 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
13776 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
13778 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
13783 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
13784 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
13785 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
13786 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
13790 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13791 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13792 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13793 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13794 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13795 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13796 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13797 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13798 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13802 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13803 integral equivalents.
13806 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13807 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13808 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13809 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13810 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13811 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13812 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13813 @samp{\n} for newline.
13815 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13816 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13817 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13818 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13821 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13822 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13823 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13824 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13827 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13828 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13829 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13832 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13833 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13836 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13837 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13838 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13839 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13842 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
13843 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13845 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13846 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13848 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13849 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
13850 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13851 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13853 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13854 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13855 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13856 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13857 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13858 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13859 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13860 code. @xref{Compilation}.
13865 @cindex member functions
13867 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13870 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13873 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13874 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13876 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13877 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13878 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13879 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13880 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13882 @cindex call overloaded functions
13883 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
13884 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13886 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13887 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13888 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13889 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13890 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13893 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13894 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13895 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13896 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13897 number of function arguments.
13899 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13900 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13901 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13903 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13904 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13906 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13909 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13910 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13912 @cindex reference declarations
13914 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13915 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13918 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13919 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13920 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13921 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13922 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13925 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13926 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13927 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13928 necessary, for example in an expression like
13929 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13930 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13931 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13934 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13939 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13941 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13943 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
13944 defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13945 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13946 selects the working language.
13948 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13949 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13950 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13951 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13952 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13953 for further details.
13956 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13958 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13960 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
13961 checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
13962 will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
13963 constants to pointers.
13965 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13966 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13967 that is not itself an array.
13970 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13972 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13973 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13974 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13975 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13977 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13978 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13981 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13982 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13984 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13986 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13987 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13990 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13991 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13992 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13993 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13994 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13995 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13997 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13998 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13999 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
14000 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
14002 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14004 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
14006 @itemx catch rethrow
14008 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
14009 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
14011 @cindex inheritance
14012 @item ptype @var{typename}
14013 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
14015 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
14017 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
14018 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
14019 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
14020 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
14021 multiple inheritance is in use.
14023 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
14024 @item set print demangle
14025 @itemx show print demangle
14026 @itemx set print asm-demangle
14027 @itemx show print asm-demangle
14028 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
14029 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
14030 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14032 @item set print object
14033 @itemx show print object
14034 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
14035 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14037 @item set print vtbl
14038 @itemx show print vtbl
14039 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
14040 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14041 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
14042 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
14044 @kindex set overload-resolution
14045 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
14046 @item set overload-resolution on
14047 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
14048 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
14049 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
14050 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
14051 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
14052 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
14054 @item set overload-resolution off
14055 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
14056 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14057 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
14058 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
14059 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14060 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
14063 @kindex show overload-resolution
14064 @item show overload-resolution
14065 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
14067 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
14068 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
14069 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
14070 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
14071 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
14072 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
14073 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
14076 @node Decimal Floating Point
14077 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
14078 @cindex decimal floating point format
14080 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
14081 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
14082 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
14083 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
14085 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
14086 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
14087 PowerPC and S/390. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the
14090 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
14091 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
14092 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
14094 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
14095 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
14096 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
14098 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
14099 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
14100 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
14106 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
14107 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
14108 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
14113 @cindex Go (programming language)
14114 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
14115 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
14117 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
14120 @cindex current Go package
14121 @item The current Go package
14122 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
14123 specifying global variables and functions.
14125 For example, given the program:
14129 var myglob = "Shall we?"
14135 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
14139 (gdb) p main.myglob
14142 @cindex builtin Go types
14143 @item Builtin Go types
14144 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
14147 @cindex builtin Go functions
14148 @item Builtin Go functions
14149 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
14150 function and handles it internally.
14152 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
14153 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
14154 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
14155 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
14156 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
14160 @subsection Objective-C
14162 @cindex Objective-C
14163 This section provides information about some commands and command
14164 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
14165 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
14166 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
14169 * Method Names in Commands::
14170 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
14173 @node Method Names in Commands
14174 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
14176 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
14177 names as line specifications:
14179 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
14180 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
14181 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
14182 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
14183 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
14187 @item @code{info line}
14192 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
14195 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
14198 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
14199 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
14200 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
14201 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
14202 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
14203 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
14207 break -[Fruit create]
14210 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
14214 list +[NSText initialize]
14217 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
14218 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
14219 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
14220 is also possible to specify just a method name:
14226 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
14227 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
14228 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
14229 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
14232 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
14233 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
14236 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
14239 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
14240 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
14241 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
14242 @kindex print-object
14243 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
14245 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
14248 print -[@var{object} hash]
14251 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
14252 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
14254 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
14255 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
14256 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
14257 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
14258 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
14259 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
14262 @subsection OpenCL C
14265 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
14268 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
14269 * OpenCL C Expressions::
14270 * OpenCL C Operators::
14273 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
14274 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
14276 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
14277 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
14278 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
14279 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
14280 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
14282 @node OpenCL C Expressions
14283 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
14285 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
14286 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
14287 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
14288 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
14290 @node OpenCL C Operators
14291 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
14293 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
14294 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
14298 @subsection Fortran
14299 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
14301 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
14302 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
14304 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
14305 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
14306 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
14307 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
14308 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
14312 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
14313 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
14314 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
14317 @node Fortran Operators
14318 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
14320 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
14322 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14323 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
14324 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
14328 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
14332 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
14333 represent a section of array.
14336 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
14337 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
14338 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
14342 @node Fortran Defaults
14343 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
14345 @cindex Fortran Defaults
14347 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
14348 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
14349 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
14350 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
14352 @node Special Fortran Commands
14353 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
14355 @cindex Special Fortran commands
14357 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
14358 such as displaying common blocks.
14361 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
14362 @kindex info common
14363 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
14364 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
14365 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
14366 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
14373 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
14374 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
14375 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
14376 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
14379 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
14380 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
14381 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
14384 @subsection Modula-2
14386 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
14388 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
14389 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
14390 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
14391 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14392 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
14395 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
14397 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
14398 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
14399 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
14400 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
14401 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
14402 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
14403 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
14404 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14405 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14409 @subsubsection Operators
14410 @cindex Modula-2 operators
14412 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14413 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14414 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
14415 following definitions hold:
14420 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
14424 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
14427 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
14430 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
14434 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
14437 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
14440 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
14444 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
14445 increasing precedence:
14449 Function argument or array index separator.
14452 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
14456 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
14460 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
14461 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
14462 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
14464 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
14465 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
14466 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
14467 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
14471 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
14472 Same precedence as @code{<}.
14475 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14478 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14481 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14484 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
14485 and difference on set types.
14488 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
14492 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
14493 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
14496 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
14497 precedence as @code{*}.
14500 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
14503 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
14506 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
14510 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
14511 precedence as @code{^}.
14514 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
14517 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
14521 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
14525 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
14526 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
14527 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
14528 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
14532 @node Built-In Func/Proc
14533 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
14534 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
14536 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
14537 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
14542 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
14545 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
14548 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
14551 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
14552 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
14553 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
14556 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
14559 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
14565 represents a variable.
14568 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
14569 explanation of the function for details.
14572 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
14576 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
14579 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
14580 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
14583 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14586 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14588 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
14589 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14592 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14593 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
14596 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
14597 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
14599 @item HIGH(@var{a})
14600 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
14603 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14605 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
14606 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14609 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14610 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
14611 there. Returns the new set.
14614 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
14617 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
14620 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
14623 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
14624 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
14625 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
14626 integral, character and enumerated types.
14628 @item SIZE(@var{x})
14629 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14631 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
14632 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
14634 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
14635 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14637 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
14638 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14642 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
14643 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
14647 @cindex Modula-2 constants
14649 @subsubsection Constants
14651 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
14657 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
14658 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
14659 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
14660 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
14663 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
14664 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
14665 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
14666 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
14667 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
14671 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
14672 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
14673 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
14674 followed by a @samp{C}.
14677 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
14678 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
14679 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
14680 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
14684 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
14687 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
14691 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
14694 Set constants are not yet supported.
14698 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
14699 @cindex Modula-2 types
14701 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
14702 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
14703 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
14704 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
14705 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
14706 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
14708 The first example contains the following section of code:
14717 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
14718 @code{r} and @code{s}.
14721 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14723 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14725 (@value{GDBP}) print r
14727 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14732 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14736 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14740 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14743 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14744 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14748 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14749 expressions using the debugger.
14751 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14752 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14756 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14760 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14761 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14764 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
14765 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
14766 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14769 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14773 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14774 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14782 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14783 and value of a variable.
14786 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14788 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14789 type = [blue..yellow]
14793 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14794 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14795 their @code{C} counterparts.
14799 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14805 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14806 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14807 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14808 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14811 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14812 pointer types as shown in this example:
14816 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14823 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14826 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14827 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14830 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14831 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14842 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14843 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14845 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14849 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14853 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14854 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14857 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14862 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14863 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
14865 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14866 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14867 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14868 selected the working language.
14870 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14871 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14872 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14873 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14876 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14877 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14879 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14880 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14884 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14885 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14886 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14887 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14888 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14889 returned a pointer.)
14892 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14893 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14894 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14895 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14898 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14902 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14906 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14907 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14910 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14913 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14915 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14919 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14920 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14923 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14924 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14927 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14928 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14930 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14931 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14934 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14936 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14937 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14939 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14940 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14943 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14946 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14947 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14952 @var{module} . @var{id}
14953 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14957 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14958 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14959 identifier within your program, except another module.
14961 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14962 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14963 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14964 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14966 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14967 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14968 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14969 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14970 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14974 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14976 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14977 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14978 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14979 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14980 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14981 analogue in Modula-2.
14983 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14984 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14985 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14986 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14987 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14988 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14990 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14991 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14992 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14998 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14999 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
15000 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
15001 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
15005 @cindex expressions in Ada
15007 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
15008 and semantics supported by Ada mode
15010 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
15011 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
15012 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
15013 * Ada Exceptions:: Ada Exceptions
15014 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
15015 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15016 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
15018 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
15021 @node Ada Mode Intro
15022 @subsubsection Introduction
15023 @cindex Ada mode, general
15025 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
15026 syntax, with some extensions.
15027 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
15031 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
15032 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
15033 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
15034 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
15037 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
15038 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15041 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15044 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
15045 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
15046 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
15047 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
15048 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
15050 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
15051 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
15052 was translated from an Ada source file.
15054 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
15055 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
15056 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
15057 middle (to allow based literals).
15059 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
15060 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
15061 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
15062 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
15063 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
15064 functions to procedures elsewhere.
15066 @node Omissions from Ada
15067 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
15068 @cindex Ada, omissions from
15070 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
15074 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
15078 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
15079 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
15082 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
15085 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
15091 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
15092 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
15095 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
15096 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
15104 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
15105 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
15106 not currently available.
15109 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
15110 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
15111 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
15112 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
15113 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
15114 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
15115 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
15116 indeterminate values.
15119 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
15120 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
15121 are not implemented.
15124 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
15125 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
15126 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
15127 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
15128 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
15131 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
15132 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
15133 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
15134 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
15135 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
15136 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
15140 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
15141 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
15142 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
15143 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
15144 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
15145 declared to have a type such as:
15148 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
15150 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
15154 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
15158 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
15159 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
15162 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
15163 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
15164 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
15165 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
15166 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
15167 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
15168 redundant component associations, although which component values are
15169 assigned in such cases is not defined.
15172 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
15175 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
15176 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
15177 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
15178 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
15179 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
15180 the proper resolution.
15183 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
15186 Entry calls are not implemented.
15189 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
15190 formats are not supported.
15193 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
15196 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
15197 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
15199 Should your program
15200 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
15201 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
15204 @node Additions to Ada
15205 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
15206 @cindex Ada, deviations from
15208 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
15209 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
15213 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
15214 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
15215 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
15216 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
15217 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
15218 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
15219 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
15220 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
15223 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
15224 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
15225 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
15228 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
15229 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
15232 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
15233 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
15236 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
15237 additions specific to Ada:
15241 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
15242 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
15245 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
15246 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
15250 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
15251 the value of its right-hand operand.
15252 This allows, for example,
15253 complex conditional breaks:
15256 (@value{GDBP}) break f
15257 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
15261 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
15262 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
15263 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
15264 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
15265 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
15266 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
15267 in strings. For example,
15269 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
15272 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
15276 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
15277 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
15281 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
15285 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
15286 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
15287 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
15288 of 3 might print as
15295 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
15299 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
15300 multi-character subsequence of
15301 their names (an exact match gets preference).
15302 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
15303 in place of @t{a'length}.
15306 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
15307 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
15308 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
15309 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
15310 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
15311 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
15314 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
15318 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
15319 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
15320 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
15321 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
15326 @node Stopping Before Main Program
15327 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
15329 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
15330 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
15331 before reaching the main procedure.
15332 As defined in the Ada Reference
15333 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
15334 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
15335 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
15336 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
15338 @node Ada Exceptions
15339 @subsubsection Ada Exceptions
15341 A command is provided to list all Ada exceptions:
15344 @kindex info exceptions
15345 @item info exceptions
15346 @itemx info exceptions @var{regexp}
15347 The @code{info exceptions} command allows you to list all Ada exceptions
15348 defined within the program being debugged, as well as their addresses.
15349 With a regular expression, @var{regexp}, as argument, only those exceptions
15350 whose names match @var{regexp} are listed.
15353 Below is a small example, showing how the command can be used, first
15354 without argument, and next with a regular expression passed as an
15358 (@value{GDBP}) info exceptions
15359 All defined Ada exceptions:
15360 constraint_error: 0x613da0
15361 program_error: 0x613d20
15362 storage_error: 0x613ce0
15363 tasking_error: 0x613ca0
15364 const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
15365 (@value{GDBP}) info exceptions const.aint
15366 All Ada exceptions matching regular expression "const.aint":
15367 constraint_error: 0x613da0
15368 const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
15371 It is also possible to ask @value{GDBN} to stop your program's execution
15372 when an exception is raised. For more details, see @ref{Set Catchpoints}.
15375 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
15376 @cindex Ada, tasking
15378 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
15379 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
15384 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
15391 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15392 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15393 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15394 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
15395 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
15396 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
15401 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
15402 task currently being inspected.
15406 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
15412 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
15415 The base priority of the task.
15418 Current state of the task.
15422 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
15426 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
15427 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
15430 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
15431 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
15432 terminated themselves.
15434 @item Child Activation Wait
15435 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
15437 @item Accept Statement
15438 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
15440 @item Waiting on entry call
15441 The task is waiting on an entry call.
15443 @item Async Select Wait
15444 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
15448 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
15451 @item Child Termination Wait
15452 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
15453 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
15454 waiting on a terminate Phase.
15456 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
15457 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
15458 finish terminating.
15460 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
15461 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
15465 Name of the task in the program.
15469 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
15470 @item info task @var{taskno}
15471 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
15472 the following example:
15477 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15478 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15479 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15480 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
15481 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
15482 Ada Task: 0x807c468
15485 Parent: 1 (main_task)
15491 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
15492 @cindex current Ada task ID
15493 This command prints the ID of the current task.
15499 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15500 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15501 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15502 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15503 (@value{GDBP}) task
15504 [Current task is 2]
15507 @item task @var{taskno}
15508 @cindex Ada task switching
15509 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
15510 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
15511 from the current task to the given task.
15517 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15518 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15519 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15520 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15521 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
15522 [Switching to task 1]
15523 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15525 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15526 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
15527 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
15528 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
15529 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
15532 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
15533 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
15534 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
15535 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
15536 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
15537 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
15538 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
15539 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
15540 in @ref{Specify Location}.
15542 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
15543 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
15544 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
15545 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
15546 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
15548 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
15549 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
15552 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
15553 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
15554 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
15562 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15563 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15564 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15565 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
15566 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15567 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
15568 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
15569 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
15570 (@value{GDBP}) cont
15575 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
15577 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15578 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15579 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15580 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
15581 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15582 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
15586 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
15587 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15588 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
15590 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
15591 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
15592 the platform being used.
15593 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
15594 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
15597 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
15598 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
15599 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
15600 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
15601 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
15602 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
15604 @node Ravenscar Profile
15605 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
15606 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
15608 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
15609 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
15613 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
15614 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
15615 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
15616 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15617 Profile. This is the default.
15619 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
15620 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
15621 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15622 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
15623 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
15624 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
15625 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
15627 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
15628 @item show ravenscar task-switching
15629 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
15630 using the Ravenscar Profile.
15635 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
15636 @cindex Ada, problems
15638 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
15639 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
15641 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
15642 and the GNU Ada compiler.
15646 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
15647 storage are invisible to the debugger.
15650 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
15651 argument lists are treated as positional).
15654 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
15657 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
15658 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
15662 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
15663 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
15664 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
15665 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
15666 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
15667 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
15668 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
15669 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
15670 you can usually resolve the confusion
15671 by qualifying the problematic names with package
15672 @code{Standard} explicitly.
15675 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
15676 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
15677 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
15678 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
15679 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
15682 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15683 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15686 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
15687 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
15688 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
15689 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
15690 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
15691 This is the default.
15693 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
15694 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
15695 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
15696 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
15697 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
15698 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
15699 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
15703 @node Unsupported Languages
15704 @section Unsupported Languages
15706 @cindex unsupported languages
15707 @cindex minimal language
15708 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
15709 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
15710 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
15711 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
15712 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
15713 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
15715 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
15716 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
15720 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
15722 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
15723 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
15724 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
15725 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
15726 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
15727 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
15728 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15730 @cindex symbol names
15731 @cindex names of symbols
15732 @cindex quoting names
15733 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
15734 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
15735 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
15736 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
15737 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
15738 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
15739 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
15740 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
15747 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
15750 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
15751 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
15752 @kindex set case-sensitive
15753 @item set case-sensitive on
15754 @itemx set case-sensitive off
15755 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
15756 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
15757 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
15758 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
15759 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
15760 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
15761 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
15762 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
15763 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
15764 case-insensitive matches.
15766 @kindex show case-sensitive
15767 @item show case-sensitive
15768 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
15771 @kindex set print type methods
15772 @item set print type methods
15773 @itemx set print type methods on
15774 @itemx set print type methods off
15775 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
15776 declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15777 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15778 print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15779 display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
15780 cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
15782 @kindex show print type methods
15783 @item show print type methods
15784 This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
15787 @kindex set print type typedefs
15788 @item set print type typedefs
15789 @itemx set print type typedefs on
15790 @itemx set print type typedefs off
15792 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
15793 defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15794 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15795 print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15796 display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
15797 @code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
15798 Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
15799 printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
15802 @kindex show print type typedefs
15803 @item show print type typedefs
15804 This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
15807 @kindex info address
15808 @cindex address of a symbol
15809 @item info address @var{symbol}
15810 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
15811 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
15812 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
15815 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
15816 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
15817 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
15819 @kindex info symbol
15820 @cindex symbol from address
15821 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
15822 @item info symbol @var{addr}
15823 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
15824 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
15825 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
15828 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
15829 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
15833 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
15834 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
15836 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
15837 library containing the symbol is also printed:
15840 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15841 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15842 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15843 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15847 @item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15848 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15849 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15850 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15852 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15853 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15854 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15856 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15857 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15858 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15859 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15860 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15861 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15862 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15863 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15864 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15866 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15867 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15868 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15869 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15870 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15873 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15874 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15875 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15877 @var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
15878 Available flags are:
15882 Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
15883 parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
15884 members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
15887 Do not print methods defined in the class.
15890 Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15891 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
15894 Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
15895 whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
15896 names are substituted when printing other types.
15899 Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15900 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
15904 @item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15905 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15906 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15907 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15909 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15910 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15911 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15912 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15913 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15914 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15915 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15916 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15918 For example, for this variable declaration:
15921 typedef double real_t;
15922 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15923 typedef struct complex complex_t;
15925 real_t *real_pointer_var;
15929 the two commands give this output:
15933 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15935 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15936 type = struct complex @{
15940 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15941 type = struct complex
15942 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15943 type = struct complex
15944 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15945 type = struct complex @{
15949 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15951 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15957 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15958 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15960 @cindex incomplete type
15961 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15962 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15963 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15964 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15965 given these declarations:
15969 struct foo *fooptr;
15973 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15976 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15977 $1 = <incomplete type>
15981 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15982 completely specified.
15985 @item info types @var{regexp}
15987 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15988 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15989 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15990 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15991 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15992 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15993 name is @code{value}.
15995 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15996 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15997 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15999 @kindex info type-printers
16000 @item info type-printers
16001 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
16002 have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
16003 @command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
16004 is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
16007 @code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
16009 @kindex enable type-printer
16010 @kindex disable type-printer
16011 @item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
16012 @item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
16013 These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
16016 @cindex local variables
16017 @item info scope @var{location}
16018 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
16019 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
16020 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
16021 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
16022 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
16025 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
16026 Scope for command_line_handler:
16027 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
16028 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
16029 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
16030 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
16031 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
16032 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
16033 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
16037 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
16038 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
16041 @kindex info source
16043 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
16044 the function containing the current point of execution:
16047 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
16049 the directory it was compiled in,
16051 its length, in lines,
16053 which programming language it is written in,
16055 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
16056 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
16058 whether the debugging information includes information about
16059 preprocessor macros.
16063 @kindex info sources
16065 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
16066 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
16067 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
16069 @kindex info functions
16070 @item info functions
16071 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
16073 @item info functions @var{regexp}
16074 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
16075 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
16076 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
16077 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
16078 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
16079 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
16080 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
16082 @kindex info variables
16083 @item info variables
16084 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
16085 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
16087 @item info variables @var{regexp}
16088 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
16089 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
16092 @kindex info classes
16093 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
16095 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
16096 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
16097 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16100 @kindex info selectors
16101 @item info selectors
16102 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
16103 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
16104 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16108 This was never implemented.
16109 @kindex info methods
16111 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
16112 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
16113 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
16114 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
16115 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
16116 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
16117 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
16118 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
16121 @cindex opaque data types
16122 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
16123 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
16124 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
16125 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
16126 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
16127 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
16128 another source file. The default is on.
16130 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
16131 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
16133 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
16134 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
16135 is printed as follows:
16137 @{<no data fields>@}
16140 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
16141 @item show opaque-type-resolution
16142 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
16144 @kindex maint print symbols
16145 @cindex symbol dump
16146 @kindex maint print psymbols
16147 @cindex partial symbol dump
16148 @kindex maint print msymbols
16149 @cindex minimal symbol dump
16150 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
16151 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
16152 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
16153 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
16154 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
16155 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
16156 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
16157 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
16158 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
16159 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
16160 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
16161 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
16162 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
16163 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
16164 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
16165 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
16166 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
16168 @kindex maint info symtabs
16169 @kindex maint info psymtabs
16170 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
16171 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16172 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16173 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16174 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16175 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16177 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
16178 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
16179 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
16180 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
16181 structure in more detail. For example:
16184 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
16185 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16186 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16187 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16188 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
16191 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
16192 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
16193 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
16194 dependencies (none)
16197 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16201 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
16202 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
16203 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
16204 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
16205 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
16208 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
16209 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
16211 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16212 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16213 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16214 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16215 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
16218 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
16219 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
16220 debugformat DWARF 2
16229 @chapter Altering Execution
16231 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
16232 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
16233 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
16234 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
16237 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
16238 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
16239 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
16242 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
16243 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
16244 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
16245 * Returning:: Returning from a function
16246 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
16247 * Patching:: Patching your program
16251 @section Assignment to Variables
16254 @cindex setting variables
16255 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
16256 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
16263 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
16264 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
16265 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
16266 information on operators in supported languages.
16268 @kindex set variable
16269 @cindex variables, setting
16270 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
16271 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
16272 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
16273 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
16274 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
16276 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
16277 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
16278 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
16279 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
16280 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
16281 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
16282 command @code{set width}:
16285 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
16287 (@value{GDBP}) p width
16289 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
16290 Invalid syntax in expression.
16294 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
16295 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
16298 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
16301 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
16302 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
16303 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
16304 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
16305 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
16306 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
16310 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
16314 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
16318 The program being debugged has been started already.
16319 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
16320 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
16321 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
16322 Invalid bfd target.
16323 (@value{GDBP}) show g
16324 The current BFD target is "=4".
16329 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
16330 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
16334 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
16337 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
16338 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
16339 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
16340 same length or shorter.
16341 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
16344 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
16345 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
16346 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
16347 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
16348 and representation in memory), and
16351 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
16355 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
16358 @section Continuing at a Different Address
16360 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
16361 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
16362 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
16366 @kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
16367 @item jump @var{linespec}
16368 @itemx j @var{linespec}
16369 @itemx jump @var{location}
16370 @itemx j @var{location}
16371 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
16372 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
16373 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
16374 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
16375 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
16376 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
16378 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
16379 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
16380 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
16381 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
16382 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
16383 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
16384 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
16385 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
16386 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
16389 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
16390 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
16391 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
16392 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
16393 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
16401 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
16402 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
16403 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
16405 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
16406 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
16407 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
16412 @section Giving your Program a Signal
16413 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
16417 @item signal @var{signal}
16418 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
16419 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
16420 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
16421 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
16423 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
16424 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
16425 a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
16426 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
16429 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
16430 after executing the command.
16434 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
16435 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
16436 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
16437 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
16438 passes the signal directly to your program.
16442 @section Returning from a Function
16445 @cindex returning from a function
16448 @itemx return @var{expression}
16449 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
16450 command. If you give an
16451 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
16455 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
16456 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
16457 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
16458 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
16460 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
16461 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
16462 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
16463 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
16466 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
16467 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
16468 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
16469 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
16470 selected stack frame returns naturally.
16472 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
16473 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
16474 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
16475 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
16476 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
16477 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
16478 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
16479 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
16480 assignment into the right register(s).
16482 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
16483 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
16484 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
16485 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
16486 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
16487 into a @code{long long int}:
16490 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
16492 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16493 Make func return now? (y or n) y
16494 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
16495 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
16499 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
16500 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
16501 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
16502 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
16503 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
16504 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
16505 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
16506 an appropriate cast explicitly:
16509 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
16510 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16511 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
16512 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
16513 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
16514 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
16515 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
16520 @section Calling Program Functions
16523 @cindex calling functions
16524 @cindex inferior functions, calling
16525 @item print @var{expr}
16526 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
16527 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
16531 @item call @var{expr}
16532 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
16535 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
16536 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
16537 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
16538 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
16539 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
16543 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
16544 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
16545 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
16546 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
16548 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
16549 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
16550 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
16551 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
16552 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
16553 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
16554 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
16555 in that case is controlled by the
16556 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
16559 @item set unwindonsignal
16560 @kindex set unwindonsignal
16561 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
16562 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
16563 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
16564 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
16565 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
16566 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
16567 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
16570 @item show unwindonsignal
16571 @kindex show unwindonsignal
16572 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16575 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16576 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16577 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
16578 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
16579 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
16580 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
16581 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
16582 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
16583 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
16584 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
16586 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16587 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16588 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16593 @cindex weak alias functions
16594 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
16595 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
16596 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
16597 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
16598 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
16599 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
16603 @section Patching Programs
16605 @cindex patching binaries
16606 @cindex writing into executables
16607 @cindex writing into corefiles
16609 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
16610 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
16611 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
16612 patching your program's binary.
16614 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
16615 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
16616 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
16622 @itemx set write off
16623 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
16624 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
16625 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
16627 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
16628 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
16629 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
16633 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
16634 as well as reading.
16638 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
16640 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
16641 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
16642 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
16643 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
16646 * Files:: Commands to specify files
16647 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
16648 * MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
16649 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
16650 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
16651 * Data Files:: GDB data files
16655 @section Commands to Specify Files
16657 @cindex symbol table
16658 @cindex core dump file
16660 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
16661 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
16662 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
16663 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
16665 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
16666 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
16667 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
16668 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
16669 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
16670 new files are useful.
16673 @cindex executable file
16675 @item file @var{filename}
16676 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
16677 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
16678 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
16679 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
16680 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
16681 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
16682 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
16683 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
16685 @cindex unlinked object files
16686 @cindex patching object files
16687 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
16688 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
16689 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
16690 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
16691 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
16692 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
16693 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
16694 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
16697 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
16698 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
16701 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16702 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
16703 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
16704 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
16705 discard information on the executable file.
16707 @kindex symbol-file
16708 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16709 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
16710 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
16711 table and program to run from the same file.
16713 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
16714 program's symbol table.
16716 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
16717 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
16718 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
16719 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
16722 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
16725 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
16726 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
16727 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
16728 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
16729 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
16730 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
16733 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
16734 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
16735 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
16736 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
16737 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
16739 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
16740 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
16741 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
16742 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
16743 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
16744 Warnings and Messages}.)
16746 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
16747 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
16748 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
16749 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
16753 @cindex reading symbols immediately
16754 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
16755 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16756 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16757 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
16758 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
16759 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
16760 entire symbol table available.
16762 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
16763 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
16764 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
16765 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
16766 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
16767 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
16771 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
16773 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
16774 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
16775 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
16776 executable file itself for other parts.
16778 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
16781 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
16782 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
16783 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
16784 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
16785 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
16787 @kindex add-symbol-file
16788 @cindex dynamic linking
16789 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
16790 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
16791 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
16792 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
16793 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
16794 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
16795 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
16796 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
16797 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
16798 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
16799 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
16800 @var{address} as an expression.
16802 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
16803 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
16804 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
16805 thus read is kept in addition to the old.
16807 Changes can be reverted using the command @code{remove-symbol-file}.
16809 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
16810 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
16811 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
16812 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
16813 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
16814 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
16815 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
16816 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
16817 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
16821 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
16822 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
16824 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
16825 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
16827 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
16828 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16832 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
16833 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
16834 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
16835 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
16836 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
16837 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
16838 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
16839 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
16840 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
16843 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16845 @kindex remove-symbol-file
16846 @item remove-symbol-file @var{filename}
16847 @item remove-symbol-file -a @var{address}
16848 Remove a symbol file added via the @code{add-symbol-file} command. The
16849 file to remove can be identified by its @var{filename} or by an @var{address}
16850 that lies within the boundaries of this symbol file in memory. Example:
16853 (gdb) add-symbol-file /home/user/gdb/mylib.so 0x7ffff7ff9480
16854 add symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so" at
16855 .text_addr = 0x7ffff7ff9480
16857 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/mylib.so...done.
16858 (gdb) remove-symbol-file -a 0x7ffff7ff9480
16859 Remove symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so"? (y or n) y
16864 @code{remove-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16866 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
16867 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
16868 @cindex load symbols from memory
16869 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
16870 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
16871 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
16872 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
16873 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
16874 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
16875 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
16876 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
16877 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
16879 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
16881 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
16882 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
16883 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
16884 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
16885 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
16886 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
16887 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
16888 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
16889 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
16890 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
16893 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
16894 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
16895 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
16896 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
16897 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
16898 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
16899 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
16903 @kindex info target
16906 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
16907 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
16908 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
16909 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16910 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16913 @kindex maint info sections
16914 @item maint info sections
16915 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16916 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16917 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16918 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16919 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16920 may be arbitrarily combined):
16924 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16925 @item @var{sections}
16926 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16927 @item @var{section-flags}
16928 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16929 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16932 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16933 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16935 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16936 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16938 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16940 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16942 Section contains executable code only.
16944 Section contains data only (no executable code).
16946 Section will reside in ROM.
16948 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16950 Section is not empty.
16952 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16953 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16954 A notification to the linker that the section contains
16955 COFF shared library information.
16957 Section contains common symbols.
16960 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16961 @cindex read-only sections
16962 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
16963 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16964 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16965 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16966 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16967 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16968 enhancement to debugging performance.
16970 The default is off.
16972 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
16973 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16974 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16975 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16977 @item show trust-readonly-sections
16978 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16981 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16982 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16983 name and remembers it that way.
16985 @cindex shared libraries
16986 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
16987 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16988 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16990 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16991 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16993 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16994 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16995 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16996 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16997 debugging a core file).
16999 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
17000 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
17002 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
17003 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
17004 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
17006 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
17007 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
17008 particularly large or there are many of them.
17010 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
17014 @kindex set auto-solib-add
17015 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
17016 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
17017 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
17018 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
17019 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
17020 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
17021 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
17023 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
17024 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
17025 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
17026 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
17027 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
17028 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
17029 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
17030 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
17031 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
17033 @kindex show auto-solib-add
17034 @item show auto-solib-add
17035 Display the current autoloading mode.
17038 @cindex load shared library
17039 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
17043 @kindex info sharedlibrary
17045 @item info share @var{regex}
17046 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
17047 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
17048 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
17049 all shared libraries that are loaded.
17051 @kindex sharedlibrary
17053 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
17054 @itemx share @var{regex}
17055 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
17056 Unix regular expression.
17057 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
17058 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
17059 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
17062 @item nosharedlibrary
17063 @kindex nosharedlibrary
17064 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
17065 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
17066 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
17067 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
17071 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
17072 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
17073 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
17076 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
17077 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
17078 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
17079 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
17082 @item set stop-on-solib-events
17083 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
17084 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
17085 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
17086 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
17089 @item show stop-on-solib-events
17090 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
17091 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
17092 library events happen.
17095 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
17096 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
17097 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
17098 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
17099 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
17100 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
17101 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
17104 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
17105 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
17106 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
17107 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
17108 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
17111 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
17112 @cindex system root, alternate
17113 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
17114 @kindex set sysroot
17115 @item set sysroot @var{path}
17116 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
17117 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
17118 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
17119 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
17120 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
17121 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
17124 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
17125 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
17126 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
17127 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
17128 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
17129 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
17130 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
17131 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
17132 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
17134 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
17135 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
17136 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
17137 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
17138 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
17141 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
17144 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
17145 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
17149 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
17152 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
17153 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
17154 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
17158 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
17161 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
17162 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
17163 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
17167 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
17168 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17169 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17173 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
17174 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
17175 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
17177 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
17178 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
17181 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
17184 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
17185 if you don't want or need to.
17187 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
17190 @cindex default system root
17191 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
17192 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
17193 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
17194 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17195 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
17196 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17199 @kindex show sysroot
17201 Display the current shared library prefix.
17203 @kindex set solib-search-path
17204 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
17205 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17206 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
17207 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
17208 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
17209 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
17210 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
17211 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
17212 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
17213 of shared library symbols.
17215 @kindex show solib-search-path
17216 @item show solib-search-path
17217 Display the current shared library search path.
17219 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
17220 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
17221 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
17222 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
17223 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
17225 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
17226 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
17227 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
17228 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
17229 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
17230 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
17231 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
17232 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
17233 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
17234 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
17235 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
17236 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
17237 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
17238 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
17239 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
17240 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
17241 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
17242 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
17243 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
17244 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
17245 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
17246 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
17250 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
17251 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
17252 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
17256 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
17257 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
17258 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
17259 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
17260 considered directory separators.
17263 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
17264 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
17265 This is the default.
17269 @cindex file name canonicalization
17270 @cindex base name differences
17271 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
17272 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
17273 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
17274 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
17275 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
17276 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
17277 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
17278 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
17279 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
17280 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
17281 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
17282 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
17283 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
17284 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
17285 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
17288 @item set basenames-may-differ
17289 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
17290 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17292 @item show basenames-may-differ
17293 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
17294 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17297 @node Separate Debug Files
17298 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
17299 @cindex separate debugging information files
17300 @cindex debugging information in separate files
17301 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
17302 @cindex debugging information directory, global
17303 @cindex global debugging information directories
17304 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
17305 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
17307 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
17308 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
17309 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
17310 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
17311 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
17312 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
17313 install only when they need to debug a problem.
17315 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
17320 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
17321 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
17322 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
17323 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
17324 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
17325 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
17326 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
17327 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
17330 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
17331 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
17332 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
17333 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
17334 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
17335 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
17336 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
17337 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
17341 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
17342 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
17346 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
17347 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
17348 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
17349 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
17350 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
17353 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
17354 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
17355 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
17356 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
17357 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
17358 hex characters, not 10.)
17361 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
17362 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
17363 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
17364 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
17365 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
17366 debug information files, in the indicated order:
17370 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
17372 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
17374 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
17376 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
17379 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
17380 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
17381 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
17382 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
17383 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
17387 @kindex set debug-file-directory
17388 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
17389 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17390 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
17391 concatenating them by a path separator.
17393 @kindex show debug-file-directory
17394 @item show debug-file-directory
17395 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17400 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
17401 @cindex debug link sections
17402 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
17403 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
17407 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
17410 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
17411 boundary within the section, and
17413 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
17414 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
17415 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
17416 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
17419 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
17420 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
17423 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
17424 @cindex build ID sections
17425 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
17426 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
17427 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
17428 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
17429 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
17430 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
17431 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
17432 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
17433 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
17435 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
17436 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
17437 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
17438 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
17439 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
17440 in an ordinary executable.
17442 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
17443 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
17444 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
17445 following commands:
17448 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
17453 These commands remove the debugging
17454 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
17455 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
17460 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
17461 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
17464 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
17467 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
17468 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
17469 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
17470 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
17473 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
17474 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
17475 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
17476 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
17481 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
17482 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
17483 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
17485 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
17486 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
17487 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
17492 <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>
17493 + <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
17499 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
17500 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
17504 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
17505 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
17506 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
17507 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
17510 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
17511 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
17512 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
17513 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
17514 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
17515 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
17517 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
17518 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
17519 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
17520 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
17523 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
17526 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
17527 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
17529 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
17531 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
17532 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
17533 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
17534 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
17535 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
17536 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
17537 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
17538 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
17539 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
17540 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
17541 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
17542 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
17543 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
17544 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
17545 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
17546 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
17547 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
17548 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
17549 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
17550 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
17551 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
17552 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
17553 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
17554 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
17555 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
17556 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
17557 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
17558 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
17559 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
17560 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
17561 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
17562 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
17563 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
17564 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
17565 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
17566 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
17567 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
17568 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
17569 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
17570 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
17571 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
17572 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
17573 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
17574 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
17575 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
17576 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
17577 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
17578 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
17579 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
17580 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
17581 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
17584 unsigned char *end;
17586 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17587 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
17588 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
17589 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17594 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
17596 @node MiniDebugInfo
17597 @section Debugging information in a special section
17598 @cindex separate debug sections
17599 @cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
17601 Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
17602 special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
17603 @dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
17604 is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
17606 The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
17607 information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
17608 replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
17609 Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
17610 @value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
17611 debugging information might be included in the section.
17613 @value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
17614 then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
17615 can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
17617 This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
17618 standard utilities:
17621 # Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
17622 # to also have these in the normal symbol table.
17623 nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17624 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
17626 # Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo.
17627 # (Note that we actually also accept "D" symbols, for the benefit
17628 # of platforms like PowerPC64 that use function descriptors.)
17629 nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17630 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t" || $2 == "D") print $1 @}' \
17633 # Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
17635 comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
17637 # Separate full debug info into debug binary.
17638 objcopy --only-keep-debug @var{binary} debug
17640 # Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
17641 # removing some unnecessary sections.
17642 objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
17643 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols debug mini_debuginfo
17645 # Drop the full debug info from the original binary.
17646 strip --strip-all -R .comment @var{binary}
17648 # Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
17651 objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
17655 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
17656 @cindex index files
17657 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
17659 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
17660 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
17661 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
17662 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
17663 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
17666 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
17667 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
17668 using @command{objcopy}.
17670 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
17673 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
17674 @kindex save gdb-index
17675 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
17676 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
17677 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
17681 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
17682 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
17685 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
17686 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
17689 @value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
17690 sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
17691 they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
17692 To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
17693 specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
17694 The default is @code{off}.
17695 This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
17696 @xref{Index Section Format}.
17698 @emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
17699 must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
17702 $ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17705 Instead you must do, for example,
17708 $ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17711 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
17712 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
17713 currently work for programs using Ada.
17715 @node Symbol Errors
17716 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
17718 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
17719 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
17720 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
17721 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
17722 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
17723 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
17724 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
17725 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
17726 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
17727 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17730 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
17733 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
17735 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
17736 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
17737 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
17738 in its outer scope blocks.
17740 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
17741 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
17742 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
17745 @item block at @var{address} out of order
17747 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
17748 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
17751 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
17752 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
17753 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
17754 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17757 @item bad block start address patched
17759 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
17760 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
17761 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
17763 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
17764 starting on the previous source line.
17766 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
17769 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
17770 larger than the size of the string table.
17772 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
17773 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
17776 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
17778 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
17779 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
17780 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
17782 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
17783 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
17784 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
17785 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
17786 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
17787 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
17789 @item stub type has NULL name
17791 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
17793 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
17794 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
17795 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
17798 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
17800 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
17805 @section GDB Data Files
17807 @cindex prefix for data files
17808 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
17809 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
17811 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
17812 is currently using.
17815 @kindex set data-directory
17816 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
17817 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
17818 to @var{directory}.
17820 @kindex show data-directory
17821 @item show data-directory
17822 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
17825 @cindex default data directory
17826 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
17827 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
17828 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
17829 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17830 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
17831 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17834 The data directory may also be specified with the
17835 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
17836 @xref{Mode Options}.
17839 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
17841 @cindex debugging target
17842 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
17844 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
17845 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
17846 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
17847 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
17848 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
17849 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
17850 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
17851 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
17853 @cindex target architecture
17854 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
17855 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
17856 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
17860 @kindex set architecture
17861 @kindex show architecture
17862 @item set architecture @var{arch}
17863 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
17864 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
17865 supported architectures.
17867 @item show architecture
17868 Show the current target architecture.
17870 @item set processor
17872 @kindex set processor
17873 @kindex show processor
17874 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
17875 and @code{show architecture}.
17879 * Active Targets:: Active targets
17880 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
17881 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
17884 @node Active Targets
17885 @section Active Targets
17887 @cindex stacking targets
17888 @cindex active targets
17889 @cindex multiple targets
17891 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
17892 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
17893 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
17894 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
17895 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
17896 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
17897 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
17898 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
17899 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
17901 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
17902 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
17903 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
17904 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
17906 @node Target Commands
17907 @section Commands for Managing Targets
17910 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
17911 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
17912 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
17913 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
17914 protocol of the target machine.
17916 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
17917 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
17918 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
17920 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
17921 after executing the command.
17923 @kindex help target
17925 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
17926 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
17927 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17929 @item help target @var{name}
17930 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
17933 @kindex set gnutarget
17934 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
17935 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
17936 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
17937 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
17938 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
17939 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
17942 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
17943 you must know the actual BFD name.
17947 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
17949 @kindex show gnutarget
17950 @item show gnutarget
17951 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
17952 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
17953 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
17954 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
17957 @cindex common targets
17958 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
17963 @item target exec @var{program}
17964 @cindex executable file target
17965 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
17966 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
17968 @item target core @var{filename}
17969 @cindex core dump file target
17970 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
17971 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
17973 @item target remote @var{medium}
17974 @cindex remote target
17975 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
17976 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
17977 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
17979 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
17980 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
17983 target remote /dev/ttya
17986 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
17987 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
17988 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
17989 clobbered by the download.
17991 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17992 @cindex built-in simulator target
17993 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
18001 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
18002 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
18003 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
18004 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
18009 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
18010 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
18012 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
18013 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
18014 various aspects of this process.
18019 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
18020 @cindex hash mark while downloading
18021 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
18022 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
18023 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
18027 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
18028 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
18030 @item set debug monitor
18031 @kindex set debug monitor
18032 @cindex display remote monitor communications
18033 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
18034 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
18036 @item show debug monitor
18037 @kindex show debug monitor
18038 Show the current status of displaying communications between
18039 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
18044 @kindex load @var{filename}
18045 @item load @var{filename}
18047 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
18048 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
18049 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
18050 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
18051 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
18052 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
18054 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
18055 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
18056 target is @dots{}}''
18058 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
18059 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
18060 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
18061 specifies a fixed address.
18062 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
18064 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
18065 load programs into flash memory.
18067 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
18071 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
18073 @cindex choosing target byte order
18074 @cindex target byte order
18076 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
18077 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
18078 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
18079 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
18080 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
18081 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
18085 @item set endian big
18086 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
18088 @item set endian little
18089 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
18091 @item set endian auto
18092 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
18096 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
18100 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
18101 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
18105 @node Remote Debugging
18106 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
18107 @cindex remote debugging
18109 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
18110 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
18111 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
18112 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
18113 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
18115 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
18116 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
18117 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
18118 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
18119 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
18120 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
18122 Other remote targets may be available in your
18123 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
18126 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
18127 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
18128 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
18129 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
18130 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
18134 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
18136 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
18137 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
18138 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
18139 program as the first argument.
18141 @cindex @code{target remote}
18142 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
18143 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
18144 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
18145 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
18146 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
18147 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
18151 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
18152 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
18153 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
18154 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
18157 target remote /dev/ttyb
18160 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
18161 @samp{--baud} option, or use the @code{set serial baud} command
18162 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set serial baud}) before the
18163 @code{target} command.
18165 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
18166 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18167 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
18168 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
18169 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
18170 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
18171 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
18172 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
18175 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
18179 target remote manyfarms:2828
18182 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
18183 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
18184 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
18185 port 1234 on your local machine:
18188 target remote :1234
18192 Note that the colon is still required here.
18194 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18195 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
18196 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
18197 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
18200 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
18203 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
18204 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
18205 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
18206 cause havoc with your debugging session.
18208 @item target remote | @var{command}
18209 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
18210 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
18211 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
18212 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
18213 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
18214 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
18215 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
18216 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
18218 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
18219 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
18220 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
18224 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
18225 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
18226 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
18227 need to use @kbd{run}.
18229 @cindex interrupting remote programs
18230 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
18231 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
18232 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
18233 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
18234 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
18235 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
18238 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
18239 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
18242 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
18243 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
18244 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
18245 goes back to waiting.
18248 @kindex detach (remote)
18250 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
18251 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
18252 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
18253 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
18254 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
18258 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
18259 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
18260 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
18261 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
18264 @cindex send command to remote monitor
18265 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
18266 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
18268 @item monitor @var{cmd}
18269 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
18270 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
18271 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
18272 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
18276 @node File Transfer
18277 @section Sending files to a remote system
18278 @cindex remote target, file transfer
18279 @cindex file transfer
18280 @cindex sending files to remote systems
18282 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
18283 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
18284 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
18285 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
18286 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
18287 the only way to upload or download files.
18289 Not all remote targets support these commands.
18293 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
18294 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
18295 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
18298 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
18299 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
18300 on the host system.
18302 @kindex remote delete
18303 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
18304 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
18309 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
18312 @cindex remote connection without stubs
18313 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
18314 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
18315 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
18317 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
18318 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
18319 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
18320 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
18321 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
18322 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
18323 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
18324 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
18325 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
18326 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
18327 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
18328 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
18329 choice for debugging.
18331 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
18332 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
18336 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
18337 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
18338 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
18339 target system with the same privileges as the user running
18343 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
18344 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
18345 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
18347 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
18348 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
18349 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
18350 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
18351 system does all the symbol handling.
18353 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
18354 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
18358 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
18361 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
18362 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
18363 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
18364 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
18365 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
18369 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
18372 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
18375 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
18378 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
18381 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
18382 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
18383 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
18384 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
18385 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
18386 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
18387 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
18388 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
18389 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
18390 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
18391 @code{target remote} command.
18393 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
18397 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
18400 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
18401 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
18402 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
18403 You could elide it if you want to.
18405 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
18406 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
18407 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
18408 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
18410 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
18411 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
18412 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
18414 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
18415 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
18418 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
18421 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
18422 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
18425 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
18426 @code{pidof} utility:
18429 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
18432 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
18433 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
18434 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
18436 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
18437 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
18438 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
18440 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
18441 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
18442 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
18443 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
18445 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
18446 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
18447 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
18448 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
18449 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
18450 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
18451 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
18452 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
18453 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
18455 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
18456 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
18457 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
18458 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
18459 the program you want to debug.
18461 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
18462 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
18463 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
18464 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
18465 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
18466 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
18468 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
18470 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
18472 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
18473 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
18474 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
18475 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
18476 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
18477 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
18478 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
18479 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
18481 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
18482 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
18483 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
18485 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
18486 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
18487 subsequent connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
18488 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
18489 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
18490 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
18491 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
18492 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
18493 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
18494 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
18495 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
18496 instance closes its port after the first connection.
18498 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
18500 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18501 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
18502 status information about the debugging process.
18503 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18504 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
18505 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
18506 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
18508 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
18509 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
18510 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
18511 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
18512 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
18514 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
18515 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
18516 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
18517 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
18519 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
18520 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
18521 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
18522 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
18524 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
18525 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
18529 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
18532 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
18534 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
18536 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
18537 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
18538 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
18539 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
18541 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
18542 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
18543 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
18544 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
18545 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
18546 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
18549 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18550 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
18551 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
18552 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
18553 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
18554 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
18555 already on the target.
18557 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
18558 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
18559 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
18561 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
18562 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
18563 Here are the available commands.
18567 List the available monitor commands.
18569 @item monitor set debug 0
18570 @itemx monitor set debug 1
18571 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
18573 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
18574 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
18575 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
18576 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
18578 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
18579 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
18580 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18581 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
18582 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
18583 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
18585 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
18586 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
18589 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
18590 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
18591 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
18592 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
18593 of a multi-process mode debug session.
18597 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18598 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18600 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
18601 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
18603 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
18604 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
18605 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
18606 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
18607 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
18608 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
18609 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
18610 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
18611 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
18612 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
18613 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
18614 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
18616 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
18619 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
18621 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
18622 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
18623 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
18625 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
18627 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
18628 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
18629 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
18630 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
18631 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
18632 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
18634 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
18636 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
18637 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
18638 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
18639 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
18640 command for that. For example:
18643 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
18646 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
18647 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
18650 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
18651 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
18652 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
18653 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
18654 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
18655 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
18656 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
18657 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
18658 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
18659 @code{gdbserver} like so:
18662 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
18665 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
18669 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
18670 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
18671 (@value{GDBP}) b main
18672 (@value{GDBP}) continue
18675 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
18676 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
18677 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
18678 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
18679 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
18682 @node Remote Configuration
18683 @section Remote Configuration
18686 @kindex show remote
18687 This section documents the configuration options available when
18688 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
18689 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
18690 system-call-allowed}.
18693 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
18694 @cindex address size for remote targets
18695 @cindex bits in remote address
18696 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
18697 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
18698 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
18699 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
18701 @item show remoteaddresssize
18702 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
18704 @item set serial baud @var{n}
18705 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
18706 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
18707 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
18710 @item show serial baud
18711 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
18713 @item set remotebreak
18714 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18715 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
18716 @anchor{set remotebreak}
18717 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
18718 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
18719 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
18720 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
18721 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
18723 @item show remotebreak
18724 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
18725 interrupt the remote program.
18727 @item set remoteflow on
18728 @itemx set remoteflow off
18729 @kindex set remoteflow
18730 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
18731 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
18733 @item show remoteflow
18734 @kindex show remoteflow
18735 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
18737 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
18738 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
18739 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
18740 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
18743 @item show remotelogbase
18744 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
18747 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
18748 @cindex record serial communications on file
18749 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
18750 default is not to record at all.
18752 @item show remotelogfile.
18753 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
18754 serial communications.
18756 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
18757 @cindex timeout for serial communications
18758 @cindex remote timeout
18759 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
18760 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
18762 @item show remotetimeout
18763 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
18766 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
18767 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
18768 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
18769 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
18770 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
18771 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
18772 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
18773 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
18775 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
18776 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
18777 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
18778 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
18779 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
18780 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
18783 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
18784 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
18785 a remote hardware watchpoint.
18787 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
18788 @itemx show remote exec-file
18789 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
18790 @cindex executable file, for remote target
18791 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
18792 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
18793 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
18794 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
18796 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
18797 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18798 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
18799 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
18800 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
18801 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
18802 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
18803 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
18804 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
18805 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
18807 @item show interrupt-sequence
18808 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
18809 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
18810 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
18811 also known as Magic SysRq g.
18813 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
18814 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
18815 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
18816 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
18817 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
18818 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
18820 @item show interrupt-on-connect
18821 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
18822 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
18826 @item set tcp auto-retry on
18827 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
18828 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
18829 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
18830 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
18831 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
18832 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
18833 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
18834 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
18836 @item set tcp auto-retry off
18837 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
18839 @item show tcp auto-retry
18840 Show the current auto-retry setting.
18842 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
18843 @itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
18844 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
18845 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
18846 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
18847 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
18848 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
18849 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
18850 value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
18851 @value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
18852 unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
18854 @item show tcp connect-timeout
18855 Show the current connection timeout setting.
18858 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
18859 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
18860 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
18861 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
18862 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
18863 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
18864 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
18865 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
18866 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
18868 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
18869 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
18870 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
18871 @value{GDBN} developers.
18873 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
18874 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
18877 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
18880 @tab Related Features
18882 @item @code{fetch-register}
18884 @tab @code{info registers}
18886 @item @code{set-register}
18890 @item @code{binary-download}
18892 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
18894 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
18895 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
18896 @tab @code{info auxv}
18898 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
18899 @tab @code{qSymbol}
18900 @tab Detecting multiple threads
18902 @item @code{attach}
18903 @tab @code{vAttach}
18906 @item @code{verbose-resume}
18908 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
18914 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
18918 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
18922 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
18926 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
18930 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
18934 @item @code{target-features}
18935 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
18936 @tab @code{set architecture}
18938 @item @code{library-info}
18939 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
18940 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
18942 @item @code{memory-map}
18943 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
18944 @tab @code{info mem}
18946 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
18947 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
18948 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
18950 @item @code{read-spu-object}
18951 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
18952 @tab @code{info spu}
18954 @item @code{write-spu-object}
18955 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
18956 @tab @code{info spu}
18958 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
18959 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
18960 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
18962 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
18963 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
18964 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
18966 @item @code{threads}
18967 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
18968 @tab @code{info threads}
18970 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
18971 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
18972 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
18974 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
18975 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
18976 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
18978 @item @code{search-memory}
18979 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
18982 @item @code{supported-packets}
18983 @tab @code{qSupported}
18984 @tab Remote communications parameters
18986 @item @code{pass-signals}
18987 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
18988 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18990 @item @code{program-signals}
18991 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18992 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18994 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18995 @tab @code{vFile:close}
18996 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18998 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18999 @tab @code{vFile:open}
19000 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19002 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
19003 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
19004 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19006 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
19007 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
19008 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
19010 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
19011 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
19012 @tab @code{remote delete}
19014 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
19015 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
19018 @item @code{noack-packet}
19019 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
19020 @tab Packet acknowledgment
19022 @item @code{osdata}
19023 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
19024 @tab @code{info os}
19026 @item @code{query-attached}
19027 @tab @code{qAttached}
19028 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
19030 @item @code{trace-buffer-size}
19031 @tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
19032 @tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
19034 @item @code{trace-status}
19035 @tab @code{qTStatus}
19036 @tab @code{tstatus}
19038 @item @code{traceframe-info}
19039 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
19040 @tab Traceframe info
19042 @item @code{install-in-trace}
19043 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
19044 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
19046 @item @code{disable-randomization}
19047 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
19048 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
19050 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
19051 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
19052 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
19056 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
19058 @cindex debugging stub, example
19059 @cindex remote stub, example
19060 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
19061 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
19062 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
19063 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
19064 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
19065 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
19066 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
19067 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
19069 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
19070 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
19071 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
19072 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
19077 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
19078 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
19079 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
19082 A C subroutine library to support your program's
19083 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
19086 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
19087 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
19088 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
19092 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
19093 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
19094 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
19098 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
19099 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
19100 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
19102 @item On the target,
19103 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
19104 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
19105 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
19107 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
19108 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
19109 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
19112 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
19113 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
19116 @cindex remote serial stub list
19117 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
19122 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
19125 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
19128 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
19129 @cindex Motorola 680x0
19131 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
19134 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
19137 For Renesas SH architectures.
19140 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
19142 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
19144 @item sparcl-stub.c
19145 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
19148 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
19152 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
19153 recently added stubs.
19156 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
19157 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
19158 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
19161 @node Stub Contents
19162 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
19164 @cindex remote serial stub
19165 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
19169 @item set_debug_traps
19170 @findex set_debug_traps
19171 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
19172 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
19173 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
19174 program's startup code.
19176 @item handle_exception
19177 @findex handle_exception
19178 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
19179 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
19180 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
19181 run when a trap is triggered.
19183 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
19184 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
19185 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
19186 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
19187 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
19188 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
19189 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
19190 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
19191 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
19195 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
19196 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
19197 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
19198 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
19199 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
19200 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
19201 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
19202 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
19203 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
19204 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
19205 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
19207 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
19208 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
19209 start of your debugging session.
19212 @node Bootstrapping
19213 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
19215 @cindex remote stub, support routines
19216 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
19217 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
19218 debugging target machine.
19220 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
19224 @item int getDebugChar()
19225 @findex getDebugChar
19226 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
19227 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
19228 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19230 @item void putDebugChar(int)
19231 @findex putDebugChar
19232 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
19233 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
19234 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19237 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
19238 @cindex interrupting remote targets
19239 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
19240 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
19241 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
19242 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
19243 remote system to stop.
19245 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
19246 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
19247 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
19248 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
19250 Other routines you need to supply are:
19253 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
19254 @findex exceptionHandler
19255 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
19256 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
19257 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
19258 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
19259 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
19260 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
19261 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
19262 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
19263 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
19264 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
19265 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
19266 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
19267 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
19269 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
19270 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
19271 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
19272 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
19273 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
19275 @item void flush_i_cache()
19276 @findex flush_i_cache
19277 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
19278 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
19279 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
19281 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
19282 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
19286 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
19289 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
19291 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
19292 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
19293 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
19294 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
19297 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
19298 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
19299 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
19300 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
19303 @node Debug Session
19304 @subsection Putting it All Together
19306 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
19307 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
19312 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
19313 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
19315 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
19316 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
19320 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
19321 procedure is called:
19328 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
19329 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
19330 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
19331 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
19332 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
19333 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
19337 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
19338 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
19341 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
19345 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
19346 function in your program, that function is called when
19347 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
19348 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
19349 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
19352 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
19353 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
19356 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
19357 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
19360 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
19361 @c document that. FIXME.
19362 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
19363 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
19366 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
19367 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
19371 @node Configurations
19372 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
19374 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
19375 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
19376 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
19378 There are three major categories of configurations: native
19379 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
19380 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
19381 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
19382 are quite different from each other.
19387 * Embedded Processors::
19394 This section describes details specific to particular native
19399 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
19400 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
19401 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
19402 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
19403 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
19404 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
19410 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
19411 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
19412 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
19415 @node BSD libkvm Interface
19416 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
19419 @cindex kernel memory image
19420 @cindex kernel crash dump
19422 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
19423 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
19424 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
19425 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
19426 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
19427 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
19428 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
19432 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
19435 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
19439 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
19442 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
19448 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
19451 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
19452 modern FreeBSD systems.
19455 @node SVR4 Process Information
19456 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
19458 @cindex examine process image
19459 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
19461 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
19462 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
19463 process using file-system subroutines.
19465 If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
19466 facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
19467 information about the process running your program, or about any
19468 process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
19469 @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital Unix), Solaris, and Irix, but
19470 not HP-UX, for example.
19472 This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
19473 that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
19479 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
19480 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
19481 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
19482 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
19483 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
19484 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
19485 executable file's absolute file name.
19487 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
19488 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
19489 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
19490 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
19491 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
19492 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
19494 @item info proc cmdline
19495 @cindex info proc cmdline
19496 Show the original command line of the process. This command is
19497 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19499 @item info proc cwd
19500 @cindex info proc cwd
19501 Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
19502 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19504 @item info proc exe
19505 @cindex info proc exe
19506 Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
19509 @item info proc mappings
19510 @cindex memory address space mappings
19511 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
19512 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
19513 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
19514 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
19515 memory access rights to that range.
19517 @item info proc stat
19518 @itemx info proc status
19519 @cindex process detailed status information
19520 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
19521 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
19522 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
19523 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
19524 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
19525 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
19526 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
19528 @item info proc all
19529 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
19530 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
19533 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
19534 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
19535 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
19536 @kindex info proc times
19537 @item info proc times
19538 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
19541 @kindex info proc id
19543 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
19544 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
19547 @item set procfs-trace
19548 @kindex set procfs-trace
19549 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
19550 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
19552 @item show procfs-trace
19553 @kindex show procfs-trace
19554 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
19556 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
19557 @kindex set procfs-file
19558 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
19559 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
19560 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
19563 @item show procfs-file
19564 @kindex show procfs-file
19565 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
19567 @item proc-trace-entry
19568 @itemx proc-trace-exit
19569 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
19570 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
19571 @kindex proc-trace-entry
19572 @kindex proc-trace-exit
19573 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
19574 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
19575 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
19576 from the @code{syscall} interface.
19579 @kindex info pidlist
19580 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
19581 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
19582 processes and all the threads within each process.
19585 @kindex info meminfo
19586 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
19587 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
19591 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
19592 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
19593 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
19594 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
19597 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
19598 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
19599 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
19600 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
19602 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
19603 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
19604 subsection describes those commands.
19609 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
19610 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19613 @cindex MS-DOS system info
19614 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
19615 @item info dos sysinfo
19616 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
19617 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
19618 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
19623 @cindex segment descriptor tables
19624 @cindex descriptor tables display
19626 @itemx info dos ldt
19627 @itemx info dos idt
19628 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
19629 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
19630 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
19631 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
19632 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
19633 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
19636 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
19637 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
19638 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
19639 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
19640 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
19642 @cindex garbled pointers
19643 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
19644 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
19645 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
19646 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
19647 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
19648 debugged program's data segment:
19651 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
19652 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
19656 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
19657 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
19659 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
19661 @itemx info dos pte
19662 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
19663 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
19664 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
19665 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
19666 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
19667 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
19668 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
19669 that is currently in use.
19671 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
19672 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
19673 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
19674 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
19675 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
19676 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
19677 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
19679 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
19680 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
19681 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
19684 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
19686 @cindex physical address from linear address
19687 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
19688 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
19689 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
19690 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
19691 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
19692 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
19693 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
19696 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
19697 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
19698 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
19702 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
19703 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
19704 attributes of that page.
19706 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
19707 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
19708 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
19709 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
19710 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
19711 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
19713 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
19717 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
19718 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
19719 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
19723 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
19724 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
19725 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
19726 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
19727 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
19729 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
19732 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
19733 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
19734 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
19735 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
19738 @kindex set com1base
19739 @kindex set com1irq
19740 @kindex set com2base
19741 @kindex set com2irq
19742 @kindex set com3base
19743 @kindex set com3irq
19744 @kindex set com4base
19745 @kindex set com4irq
19746 @item set com1base @var{addr}
19747 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
19750 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
19751 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
19752 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
19754 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
19755 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
19758 @kindex show com1base
19759 @kindex show com1irq
19760 @kindex show com2base
19761 @kindex show com2irq
19762 @kindex show com3base
19763 @kindex show com3irq
19764 @kindex show com4base
19765 @kindex show com4irq
19766 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
19767 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
19768 lines used by the COM ports.
19771 @kindex info serial
19772 @cindex DOS serial port status
19773 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
19774 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
19775 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
19776 counts of various errors encountered so far.
19780 @node Cygwin Native
19781 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
19782 @cindex MS Windows debugging
19783 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
19784 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
19786 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
19787 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
19789 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
19790 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
19791 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
19792 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
19793 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
19794 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
19795 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
19798 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
19799 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
19800 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
19805 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
19806 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19808 @item info w32 selector
19809 This command displays information returned by
19810 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
19811 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
19812 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
19813 Without argument, this command displays information
19814 about the six segment registers.
19816 @item info w32 thread-information-block
19817 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
19818 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
19819 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
19823 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
19825 @kindex dll-symbols
19827 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
19828 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
19830 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
19831 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
19832 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
19833 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
19834 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
19835 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
19836 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
19837 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
19838 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
19839 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
19840 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
19842 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
19843 @item show cygwin-exceptions
19844 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
19845 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
19847 @kindex set new-console
19848 @item set new-console @var{mode}
19849 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
19850 be started in a new console on next start.
19851 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
19852 be started in the same console as the debugger.
19854 @kindex show new-console
19855 @item show new-console
19856 Displays whether a new console is used
19857 when the debuggee is started.
19859 @kindex set new-group
19860 @item set new-group @var{mode}
19861 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
19862 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
19863 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
19866 @kindex show new-group
19867 @item show new-group
19868 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
19870 @kindex set debugevents
19871 @item set debugevents
19872 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
19873 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
19874 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
19875 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
19876 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
19878 @kindex set debugexec
19879 @item set debugexec
19880 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
19881 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
19883 @kindex set debugexceptions
19884 @item set debugexceptions
19885 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
19886 debuggee seen by the debugger.
19888 @kindex set debugmemory
19889 @item set debugmemory
19890 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
19891 and writes by the debugger.
19895 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
19896 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
19900 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
19905 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
19908 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
19909 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
19910 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
19911 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
19913 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
19914 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
19915 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
19916 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
19917 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
19918 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
19919 ``minimal symbols''.
19921 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
19922 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
19923 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
19924 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
19925 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
19926 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
19927 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
19928 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
19929 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
19930 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
19932 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
19934 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
19935 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
19936 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
19937 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
19938 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
19939 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
19940 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
19941 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
19942 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
19944 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
19945 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
19946 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
19947 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
19948 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
19949 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
19952 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
19953 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
19955 Non-debugging symbols:
19956 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
19957 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
19961 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
19962 All functions matching regular expression "!":
19964 Non-debugging symbols:
19965 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
19966 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
19967 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
19971 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
19973 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
19974 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
19975 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
19976 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
19977 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
19978 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
19979 a function within a DLL without a running program.
19981 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
19982 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
19983 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
19984 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
19988 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
19993 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
19994 0x10021610: "\230y\""
19997 And two possible solutions:
20000 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
20001 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
20005 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
20006 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
20007 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
20008 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
20009 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
20010 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
20013 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
20014 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
20015 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
20016 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
20017 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
20020 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
20021 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
20024 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
20025 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
20029 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
20030 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
20032 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
20033 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
20038 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
20039 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
20040 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
20041 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
20042 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
20047 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
20048 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
20049 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
20051 @item set signal-thread
20052 @itemx set sigthread
20053 @kindex set signal-thread
20054 @kindex set sigthread
20055 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
20056 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
20057 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
20060 @item show signal-thread
20061 @itemx show sigthread
20062 @kindex show signal-thread
20063 @kindex show sigthread
20064 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
20065 delivered a signal.
20068 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
20069 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
20070 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
20071 continued by delivering a signal to it.
20074 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
20075 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
20078 @item set exceptions
20079 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
20080 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
20081 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
20082 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
20085 @item show exceptions
20086 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
20087 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
20089 @item set task pause
20090 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
20091 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20092 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20093 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
20094 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
20095 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
20096 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
20097 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
20098 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
20100 @item show task pause
20101 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
20102 Show the current state of task suspension.
20104 @item set task detach-suspend-count
20105 @cindex task suspend count
20106 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20107 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
20108 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
20110 @item show task detach-suspend-count
20111 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
20113 @item set task exception-port
20114 @itemx set task excp
20115 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20116 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
20117 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
20118 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
20120 @item set noninvasive
20121 @cindex noninvasive task options
20122 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
20123 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
20124 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
20125 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
20127 @item info send-rights
20128 @itemx info receive-rights
20129 @itemx info port-rights
20130 @itemx info port-sets
20131 @itemx info dead-names
20134 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20135 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20136 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20137 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20138 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20139 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
20140 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
20141 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
20142 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
20144 @item set thread pause
20145 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
20146 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20147 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20148 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
20149 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
20150 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
20151 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
20152 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
20153 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
20154 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
20155 only the current thread.
20157 @item show thread pause
20158 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
20159 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
20161 @item set thread run
20162 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20164 @item show thread run
20165 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20167 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
20168 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20169 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20170 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
20171 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
20172 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
20173 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
20175 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
20176 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
20179 @item set thread exception-port
20180 @itemx set thread excp
20181 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
20182 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
20183 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
20185 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
20186 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
20187 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
20188 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
20190 @item set thread default
20191 @itemx show thread default
20192 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20193 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
20194 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
20195 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
20196 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
20197 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
20198 the non-default commands.
20205 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
20208 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
20209 @kindex set debug darwin
20210 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
20211 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
20213 @item show debug darwin
20214 @kindex show debug darwin
20215 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
20217 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
20218 @kindex set debug mach-o
20219 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
20220 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
20221 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
20222 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
20223 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
20226 @item show debug mach-o
20227 @kindex show debug mach-o
20228 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
20230 @item set mach-exceptions on
20231 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
20232 @kindex set mach-exceptions
20233 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
20234 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
20235 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
20236 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
20238 @item show mach-exceptions
20239 @kindex show mach-exceptions
20240 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
20245 @section Embedded Operating Systems
20247 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
20248 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
20252 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
20255 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
20256 various real-time operating systems.
20259 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
20265 @kindex target vxworks
20266 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
20267 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
20268 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
20272 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
20273 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
20275 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
20276 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
20277 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20278 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
20279 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
20280 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
20281 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
20284 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
20285 @kindex vxworks-timeout
20286 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
20287 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20288 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
20289 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
20290 of a thin network line.
20293 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
20294 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
20297 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
20298 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
20299 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
20300 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
20301 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
20302 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
20303 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
20304 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
20306 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
20308 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
20309 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20310 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
20311 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
20313 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20320 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
20321 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
20322 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
20325 @node VxWorks Connection
20326 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
20328 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
20329 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
20332 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
20336 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20339 Attaching remote machine across net...
20344 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
20345 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
20346 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
20347 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
20348 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
20351 prog.o: No such file or directory.
20354 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
20355 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
20358 @node VxWorks Download
20359 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
20361 @cindex download to VxWorks
20362 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
20363 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
20364 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
20365 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
20366 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
20367 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
20368 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
20369 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
20370 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
20371 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
20372 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
20373 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
20374 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
20375 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
20376 program, type this on VxWorks:
20379 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
20383 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20386 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
20387 (vxgdb) load prog.o
20390 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
20393 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
20396 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
20397 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
20398 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
20399 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
20400 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
20401 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
20404 @node VxWorks Attach
20405 @subsubsection Running Tasks
20407 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
20408 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
20412 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
20416 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
20417 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
20418 the time of attachment.
20420 @node Embedded Processors
20421 @section Embedded Processors
20423 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
20426 @cindex send command to simulator
20427 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
20428 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
20431 @item sim @var{command}
20432 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
20433 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
20434 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
20435 acceptable commands.
20441 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
20442 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
20443 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
20444 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
20445 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
20446 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
20447 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
20448 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
20449 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
20452 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
20461 @item target rdi @var{dev}
20462 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
20463 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
20464 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
20467 @item target rdp @var{dev}
20472 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
20475 @item set arm disassembler
20477 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
20478 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
20480 @item show arm disassembler
20482 Show the current disassembly style.
20484 @item set arm apcs32
20485 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
20486 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
20488 @item show arm apcs32
20489 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
20491 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
20492 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
20493 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
20497 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
20499 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
20502 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
20504 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
20510 Show the current type of the FPU.
20513 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
20516 Show the currently used ABI.
20518 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20519 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
20520 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
20521 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
20522 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
20523 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
20526 @item show arm fallback-mode
20527 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
20529 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20530 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
20531 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
20532 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
20533 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
20535 @item show arm force-mode
20536 Show the current forced instruction mode.
20538 @item set debug arm
20539 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
20540 target support subsystem.
20542 @item show debug arm
20543 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
20546 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
20547 using the RDI interface:
20550 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20552 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
20553 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
20554 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
20555 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
20558 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
20559 @kindex rdilogenable
20560 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
20561 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
20562 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
20563 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
20564 are logged to a file.
20566 @item set rdiromatzero
20567 @kindex set rdiromatzero
20568 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
20569 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
20570 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
20571 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
20572 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
20574 @item show rdiromatzero
20575 @kindex show rdiromatzero
20576 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
20578 @item set rdiheartbeat
20579 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
20580 @cindex RDI heartbeat
20581 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
20582 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
20583 well as the Angel monitor.
20585 @item show rdiheartbeat
20586 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
20587 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
20591 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
20592 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
20595 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
20596 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
20597 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
20598 The default value is @code{all}.
20611 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
20614 @kindex target m32r
20615 @item target m32r @var{dev}
20616 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
20618 @kindex target m32rsdi
20619 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
20620 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
20623 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
20626 @item set download-path @var{path}
20627 @kindex set download-path
20628 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
20629 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20631 @item show download-path
20632 @kindex show download-path
20633 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20635 @item set board-address @var{addr}
20636 @kindex set board-address
20637 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
20638 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
20640 @item show board-address
20641 @kindex show board-address
20642 Show the current IP address of the target board.
20644 @item set server-address @var{addr}
20645 @kindex set server-address
20646 @cindex download server address (M32R)
20647 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
20650 @item show server-address
20651 @kindex show server-address
20652 Display the IP address of the download server.
20654 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20655 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
20656 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
20657 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
20658 executable file is uploaded.
20660 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20661 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
20662 Test the @code{upload} command.
20665 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
20670 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
20671 This command resets the SDI connection.
20675 This command shows the SDI connection status.
20678 @kindex debug_chaos
20679 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
20680 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
20682 @item use_debug_dma
20683 @kindex use_debug_dma
20684 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
20687 @kindex use_mon_code
20688 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
20691 @kindex use_ib_break
20692 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
20694 @item use_dbt_break
20695 @kindex use_dbt_break
20696 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
20702 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
20703 target command for the following ROM monitor.
20707 @kindex target dbug
20708 @item target dbug @var{dev}
20709 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
20714 @subsection MicroBlaze
20715 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
20716 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
20718 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
20719 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
20720 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
20721 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
20722 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
20723 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
20724 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
20725 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
20726 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
20727 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
20728 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
20730 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
20733 @item target remote :1234
20734 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
20735 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
20737 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
20738 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
20739 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
20742 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
20744 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
20745 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
20747 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
20748 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
20751 @node MIPS Embedded
20752 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
20754 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
20755 @value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
20756 @acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
20757 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
20760 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
20763 @item target mips @var{port}
20764 @kindex target mips @var{port}
20765 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
20766 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
20767 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
20768 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
20769 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
20770 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
20772 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
20773 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
20777 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
20778 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
20779 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
20780 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
20784 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
20785 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
20786 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
20787 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
20788 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
20790 @item target pmon @var{port}
20791 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
20794 @item target ddb @var{port}
20795 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
20796 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
20798 @item target lsi @var{port}
20799 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
20800 LSI variant of PMON.
20802 @kindex target r3900
20803 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
20804 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
20806 @kindex target array
20807 @item target array @var{dev}
20808 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
20814 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
20817 @item set mipsfpu double
20818 @itemx set mipsfpu single
20819 @itemx set mipsfpu none
20820 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
20821 @itemx show mipsfpu
20822 @kindex set mipsfpu
20823 @kindex show mipsfpu
20824 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
20825 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
20826 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
20827 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
20828 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
20829 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
20830 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
20831 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
20832 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
20833 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
20834 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
20835 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
20836 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
20838 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
20839 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
20840 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
20842 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
20843 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
20845 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
20846 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
20847 @itemx show timeout
20848 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
20849 @cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20850 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20851 @kindex set timeout
20852 @kindex show timeout
20853 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
20854 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
20855 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
20856 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
20857 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
20858 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
20859 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
20860 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
20861 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
20862 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
20864 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
20865 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
20866 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
20867 to run before stopping.
20869 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
20870 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20871 @cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
20872 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
20873 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
20874 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
20876 @item show syn-garbage-limit
20877 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20878 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
20879 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
20881 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
20882 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20883 @cindex remote monitor prompt
20884 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
20885 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
20895 @item show monitor-prompt
20896 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20897 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
20900 @item set monitor-warnings
20901 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20902 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
20903 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
20904 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
20905 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
20907 @item show monitor-warnings
20908 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20909 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
20911 @item pmon @var{command}
20912 @kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20913 @cindex send PMON command
20914 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
20915 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
20918 @node PowerPC Embedded
20919 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
20921 @cindex DVC register
20922 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20923 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20926 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20927 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20930 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20931 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20932 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20933 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20934 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20937 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20938 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20939 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20940 watching variables of scalar types.
20942 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20943 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20946 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20947 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20950 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20951 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20953 @cindex ranged breakpoint
20954 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20955 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20956 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20957 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20958 use the @code{break-range} command.
20960 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20963 @kindex break-range
20964 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20965 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20966 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20967 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20968 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20969 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20970 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20971 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20972 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20974 @kindex set powerpc
20975 @item set powerpc soft-float
20976 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
20977 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20978 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20979 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20981 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20982 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20983 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20984 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20985 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20986 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20987 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20988 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20990 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20991 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20992 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20993 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20994 address of its first byte.
20996 @kindex target dink32
20997 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20998 DINK32 ROM monitor.
21000 @kindex target ppcbug
21001 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
21002 @kindex target ppcbug1
21003 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
21004 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
21007 @item target sds @var{dev}
21008 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
21011 @cindex SDS protocol
21012 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
21016 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
21017 @kindex set sdstimeout
21018 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
21019 default is 2 seconds.
21021 @item show sdstimeout
21022 @kindex show sdstimeout
21023 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
21025 @item sds @var{command}
21026 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
21027 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
21032 @subsection HP PA Embedded
21036 @kindex target op50n
21037 @item target op50n @var{dev}
21038 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
21040 @kindex target w89k
21041 @item target w89k @var{dev}
21042 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
21047 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
21051 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
21052 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
21053 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
21054 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
21055 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
21058 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
21059 @kindex remotetimeout
21060 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
21061 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
21062 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
21065 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
21066 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
21067 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
21068 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
21069 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
21072 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
21075 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
21078 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
21081 @cindex running, on Sparclet
21083 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
21084 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
21085 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
21087 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
21094 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
21095 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
21096 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
21097 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
21100 @node Sparclet File
21101 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
21103 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
21106 (gdbslet) file prog
21110 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
21111 @value{GDBN} locates
21112 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
21114 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
21115 files will be searched as well.
21116 @value{GDBN} locates
21117 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
21118 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
21120 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
21123 prog: No such file or directory.
21126 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
21127 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
21128 @code{target} command again.
21130 @node Sparclet Connection
21131 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
21133 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
21134 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
21137 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
21138 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
21139 main () at ../prog.c:3
21143 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
21149 @node Sparclet Download
21150 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
21152 @cindex download to Sparclet
21153 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
21154 you can use the @value{GDBN}
21155 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
21156 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
21158 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
21159 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
21160 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
21161 of each of the file's sections.
21162 For instance, if the program
21163 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
21164 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
21167 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
21168 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
21171 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
21172 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
21173 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
21175 @node Sparclet Execution
21176 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
21178 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
21179 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
21180 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
21181 manual for the list of commands.
21185 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
21187 Starting program: prog
21188 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
21189 3 char *symarg = 0;
21191 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
21196 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
21200 @kindex target sparclite
21201 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
21202 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
21203 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
21204 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
21210 @subsection Zilog Z8000
21213 @cindex simulator, Z8000
21214 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
21216 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
21219 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
21220 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
21221 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
21222 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
21225 @item target sim @var{args}
21227 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
21228 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
21229 options, specify them via @var{args}.
21233 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
21234 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
21235 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
21236 to run your program, and so on.
21238 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
21239 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
21240 additional items of information as specially named registers:
21245 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
21248 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
21251 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
21255 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
21256 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
21257 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
21258 simulated clock ticks.
21261 @subsection Atmel AVR
21264 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
21265 following AVR-specific commands:
21268 @item info io_registers
21269 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
21270 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
21271 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
21272 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
21279 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
21280 following CRIS-specific commands:
21283 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
21284 @cindex CRIS version
21285 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
21286 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
21287 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
21289 @item show cris-version
21290 Show the current CRIS version.
21292 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
21293 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
21294 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
21295 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
21298 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
21299 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
21301 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
21303 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
21304 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
21305 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
21307 @item show cris-mode
21308 Show the current CRIS mode.
21312 @subsection Renesas Super-H
21315 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
21319 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
21320 @kindex set sh calling-convention
21321 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
21322 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
21323 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
21324 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
21325 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
21326 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
21327 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
21328 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
21329 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
21330 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
21332 @item show sh calling-convention
21333 @kindex show sh calling-convention
21334 Show the current calling convention setting.
21339 @node Architectures
21340 @section Architectures
21342 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
21343 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
21350 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
21351 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21357 @subsection AArch64
21358 @cindex AArch64 support
21360 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
21361 following special commands:
21364 @item set debug aarch64
21365 @kindex set debug aarch64
21366 This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
21367 messages are to be displayed.
21369 @item show debug aarch64
21370 Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
21375 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
21378 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
21379 @kindex set struct-convention
21380 @cindex struct return convention
21381 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
21382 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
21383 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
21384 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
21385 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
21386 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
21387 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
21388 be returned in a register.
21390 @item show struct-convention
21391 @kindex show struct-convention
21392 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
21396 @subsubsection Intel(R) @dfn{Memory Protection Extensions} (MPX).
21397 @cindex Intel(R) Memory Protection Extensions (MPX).
21399 Memory Protection Extension (MPX) adds the bound registers @samp{BND0}
21400 @footnote{The register named with capital letters represent the architecture
21401 registers.} through @samp{BND3}. Bound registers store a pair of 64-bit values
21402 which are the lower bound and upper bound. Bounds are effective addresses or
21403 memory locations. The upper bounds are architecturally represented in 1's
21404 complement form. A bound having lower bound = 0, and upper bound = 0
21405 (1's complement of all bits set) will allow access to the entire address space.
21407 @samp{BND0} through @samp{BND3} are represented in @value{GDBN} as @samp{bnd0raw}
21408 through @samp{bnd3raw}. Pseudo registers @samp{bnd0} through @samp{bnd3}
21409 display the upper bound performing the complement of one operation on the
21410 upper bound value, i.e.@ when upper bound in @samp{bnd0raw} is 0 in the
21411 @value{GDBN} @samp{bnd0} it will be @code{0xfff@dots{}}. In this sense it
21412 can also be noted that the upper bounds are inclusive.
21414 As an example, assume that the register BND0 holds bounds for a pointer having
21415 access allowed for the range between 0x32 and 0x71. The values present on
21416 bnd0raw and bnd registers are presented as follows:
21419 bnd0raw = @{0x32, 0xffffffff8e@}
21420 bnd0 = @{lbound = 0x32, ubound = 0x71@} : size 64
21423 This way the raw value can be accessed via bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw. Any
21424 change on bnd0@dots{}bnd3 or bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw is reflect on its
21425 counterpart. When the bnd0@dots{}bnd3 registers are displayed via
21426 Python, the display includes the memory size, in bits, accessible to
21432 See the following section.
21435 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
21437 @cindex stack on Alpha
21438 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
21439 @cindex Alpha stack
21440 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
21441 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
21442 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
21443 find the beginning of a function.
21445 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
21446 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
21447 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
21448 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
21452 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
21453 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
21454 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
21455 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
21456 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
21457 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
21458 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
21459 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
21461 @item show heuristic-fence-post
21462 Display the current limit.
21466 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
21467 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
21469 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
21473 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
21474 @kindex set mips abi
21475 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
21476 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
21477 values of @var{arg} are:
21481 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
21491 @item show mips abi
21492 @kindex show mips abi
21493 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21495 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
21496 @kindex set mips compression
21497 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
21498 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
21499 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
21500 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
21501 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
21502 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
21503 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
21504 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
21505 provided by the executable.
21507 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
21508 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
21509 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
21510 identified as such.
21512 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
21513 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
21514 implicitly from an executable.
21516 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
21517 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
21518 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
21519 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
21520 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
21522 @item show mips compression
21523 @kindex show mips compression
21524 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
21525 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21528 @itemx show mipsfpu
21529 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
21531 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
21532 @kindex set mips mask-address
21533 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
21534 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
21535 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
21536 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
21537 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
21539 @item show mips mask-address
21540 @kindex show mips mask-address
21541 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
21544 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21545 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21546 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
21547 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
21548 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
21549 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
21551 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21552 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21553 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
21555 @item set debug mips
21556 @kindex set debug mips
21557 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
21558 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21560 @item show debug mips
21561 @kindex show debug mips
21562 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
21568 @cindex HPPA support
21570 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
21571 following special commands:
21574 @item set debug hppa
21575 @kindex set debug hppa
21576 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
21577 messages are to be displayed.
21579 @item show debug hppa
21580 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
21582 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
21583 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
21584 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
21585 given @var{address}.
21591 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21592 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
21595 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
21596 it provides the following special commands:
21599 @item info spu event
21601 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
21602 and pending event status.
21604 @item info spu signal
21605 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
21606 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
21607 notification channels.
21609 @item info spu mailbox
21610 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
21611 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
21612 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
21615 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21616 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21617 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21619 @item info spu proxydma
21620 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21621 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21622 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21626 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
21627 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
21631 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
21633 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
21634 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
21635 function. The default is @code{off}.
21637 @item show spu stop-on-load
21639 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
21641 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
21642 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
21643 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
21644 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
21645 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
21646 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
21648 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
21649 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
21654 @subsection PowerPC
21655 @cindex PowerPC architecture
21657 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
21658 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
21659 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
21660 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
21661 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
21663 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
21664 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
21665 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
21667 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
21668 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
21671 @subsection Nios II
21672 @cindex Nios II architecture
21674 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
21675 it provides the following special commands:
21679 @item set debug nios2
21680 @kindex set debug nios2
21681 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
21682 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21684 @item show debug nios2
21685 @kindex show debug nios2
21686 Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
21689 @node Controlling GDB
21690 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
21692 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
21693 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
21694 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
21699 * Editing:: Command editing
21700 * Command History:: Command history
21701 * Screen Size:: Screen size
21702 * Numbers:: Numbers
21703 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
21704 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
21705 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
21706 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
21707 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
21715 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
21716 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
21717 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
21718 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
21719 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
21720 which one you are talking to.
21722 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
21723 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
21724 or a prompt that does not.
21728 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
21729 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
21731 @kindex show prompt
21733 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
21736 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
21737 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
21741 @kindex set extended-prompt
21742 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
21743 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
21744 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
21745 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
21746 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
21752 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
21755 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
21756 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
21758 @kindex show extended-prompt
21759 @item show extended-prompt
21760 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
21761 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
21762 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
21766 @section Command Editing
21768 @cindex command line editing
21770 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
21771 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
21772 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
21773 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
21774 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
21775 debugging sessions.
21777 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
21778 command @code{set}.
21781 @kindex set editing
21784 @itemx set editing on
21785 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
21787 @item set editing off
21788 Disable command line editing.
21790 @kindex show editing
21792 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
21795 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21796 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
21798 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21799 @xref{Command Line Editing},
21801 for more details about the Readline
21802 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
21803 encouraged to read that chapter.
21805 @node Command History
21806 @section Command History
21807 @cindex command history
21809 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
21810 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
21811 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
21814 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
21815 package, to provide the history facility.
21816 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21817 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
21819 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21820 @xref{Using History Interactively},
21822 for the detailed description of the History library.
21824 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
21825 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
21826 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
21827 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
21828 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
21829 pressed on a line by itself.
21831 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
21832 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
21833 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
21834 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
21836 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
21840 @cindex history substitution
21841 @cindex history file
21842 @kindex set history filename
21843 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
21844 @item set history filename @var{fname}
21845 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
21846 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
21847 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
21848 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
21849 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
21850 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
21851 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
21854 @cindex save command history
21855 @kindex set history save
21856 @item set history save
21857 @itemx set history save on
21858 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
21859 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
21861 @item set history save off
21862 Stop recording command history in a file.
21864 @cindex history size
21865 @kindex set history size
21866 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
21867 @item set history size @var{size}
21868 @itemx set history size unlimited
21869 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
21870 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
21871 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set. If @var{size}
21872 is @code{unlimited}, the number of commands @value{GDBN} keeps in the
21873 history list is unlimited.
21876 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
21877 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21878 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
21880 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21881 @xref{Event Designators},
21885 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
21886 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
21887 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
21888 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
21889 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
21890 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
21891 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
21892 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
21894 The commands to control history expansion are:
21897 @item set history expansion on
21898 @itemx set history expansion
21899 @kindex set history expansion
21900 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
21902 @item set history expansion off
21903 Disable history expansion.
21906 @kindex show history
21908 @itemx show history filename
21909 @itemx show history save
21910 @itemx show history size
21911 @itemx show history expansion
21912 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
21913 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
21918 @kindex show commands
21919 @cindex show last commands
21920 @cindex display command history
21921 @item show commands
21922 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
21924 @item show commands @var{n}
21925 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
21927 @item show commands +
21928 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
21932 @section Screen Size
21933 @cindex size of screen
21934 @cindex pauses in output
21936 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
21937 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
21938 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
21939 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
21940 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
21941 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
21942 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
21943 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
21945 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
21946 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
21947 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
21948 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
21949 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
21956 @kindex show height
21957 @item set height @var{lpp}
21958 @itemx set height unlimited
21960 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
21961 @itemx set width unlimited
21963 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
21964 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
21965 commands display the current settings.
21967 If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
21968 @value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
21969 output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
21972 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
21973 width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
21975 @item set pagination on
21976 @itemx set pagination off
21977 @kindex set pagination
21978 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
21979 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
21980 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
21981 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
21983 @item show pagination
21984 @kindex show pagination
21985 Show the current pagination mode.
21990 @cindex number representation
21991 @cindex entering numbers
21993 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21994 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21995 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21996 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21997 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
21998 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21999 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
22000 both input and output with the commands described below.
22003 @kindex set input-radix
22004 @item set input-radix @var{base}
22005 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
22006 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
22007 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
22011 set input-radix 012
22012 set input-radix 10.
22013 set input-radix 0xa
22017 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
22018 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
22019 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
22020 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
22021 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
22024 @kindex set output-radix
22025 @item set output-radix @var{base}
22026 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
22027 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
22028 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
22030 @kindex show input-radix
22031 @item show input-radix
22032 Display the current default base for numeric input.
22034 @kindex show output-radix
22035 @item show output-radix
22036 Display the current default base for numeric display.
22038 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
22042 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
22043 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
22044 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
22045 default value of 10.
22050 @section Configuring the Current ABI
22052 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
22053 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
22054 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
22060 @cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
22062 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
22063 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
22064 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
22065 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
22066 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
22067 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
22068 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
22071 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
22072 ``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
22073 @code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
22074 The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
22078 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
22081 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
22083 @item set osabi @var{abi}
22084 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
22087 @cindex float promotion
22089 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
22090 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
22091 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
22092 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
22093 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
22094 @code{double} and then passed.
22096 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
22097 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
22098 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
22101 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
22102 @item set coerce-float-to-double
22103 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
22104 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
22105 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
22107 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
22108 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
22111 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
22112 @item show coerce-float-to-double
22113 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
22117 @kindex show cp-abi
22118 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
22119 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
22120 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
22121 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
22122 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
22123 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
22124 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
22125 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
22126 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
22127 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
22132 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
22135 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
22137 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
22138 @itemx set cp-abi auto
22139 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
22143 @section Automatically loading associated files
22144 @cindex auto-loading
22146 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
22147 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
22148 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
22149 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
22150 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
22153 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
22154 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
22155 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22157 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
22158 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
22161 @anchor{set auto-load off}
22162 @kindex set auto-load off
22163 @item set auto-load off
22164 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
22165 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
22166 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
22168 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
22171 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
22172 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
22173 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
22174 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
22175 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
22176 @code{set auto-load no}.
22178 @anchor{show auto-load}
22179 @kindex show auto-load
22180 @item show auto-load
22181 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
22185 (gdb) show auto-load
22186 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
22187 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
22188 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
22190 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
22191 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22192 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22193 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
22194 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22197 @anchor{info auto-load}
22198 @kindex info auto-load
22199 @item info auto-load
22200 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
22204 (gdb) info auto-load
22207 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
22208 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
22209 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
22213 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
22217 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
22221 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22223 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22225 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
22226 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22228 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
22229 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22231 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
22234 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
22236 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
22237 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
22238 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
22239 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
22240 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
22241 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
22242 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
22243 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22244 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22245 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22246 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22247 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22248 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22249 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22250 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22251 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
22252 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22253 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
22254 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22255 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22256 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22257 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
22258 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22259 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22260 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
22261 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22262 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
22263 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22264 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
22265 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
22266 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
22267 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
22268 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
22269 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
22270 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
22271 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
22272 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
22273 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
22274 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
22275 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
22276 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
22280 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22281 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
22282 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
22283 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
22284 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
22285 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
22288 @node Init File in the Current Directory
22289 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
22290 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
22292 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
22293 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
22294 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
22296 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
22297 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22300 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
22301 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
22302 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
22303 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
22304 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
22306 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
22307 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
22308 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
22309 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22310 current directory is enabled or disabled.
22312 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22313 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
22314 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
22315 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22316 current directory have been auto-loaded.
22319 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
22320 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
22321 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
22323 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
22325 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
22326 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
22328 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
22329 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
22330 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
22331 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
22332 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
22335 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
22336 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22339 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
22340 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
22341 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
22342 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
22344 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
22345 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
22346 @item show auto-load libthread-db
22347 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
22348 enabled or disabled.
22350 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
22351 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
22352 @item info auto-load libthread-db
22353 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
22354 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
22357 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
22358 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
22359 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
22361 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
22362 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
22363 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
22365 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
22366 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22368 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
22369 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
22372 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
22373 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
22374 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
22375 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
22377 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
22378 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
22379 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
22380 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
22383 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
22384 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
22385 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
22386 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
22387 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
22391 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
22392 matching names are printed.
22394 @node Auto-loading safe path
22395 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
22396 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
22398 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
22399 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
22400 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
22401 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
22402 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
22404 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
22409 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
22410 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
22411 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22412 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22413 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
22414 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22415 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22419 To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
22420 invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
22423 $ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
22426 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
22429 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
22430 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
22431 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
22432 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
22433 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
22434 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
22435 directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
22436 (@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
22437 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
22438 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
22440 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
22441 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
22442 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
22444 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
22445 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
22446 @item show auto-load safe-path
22447 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
22450 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
22451 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
22452 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
22453 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
22454 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
22455 host platform path separator in use.
22458 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
22459 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
22460 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22461 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
22462 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
22464 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
22465 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
22466 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
22467 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
22468 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
22469 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
22470 init file in the current directory
22471 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
22473 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
22474 example, you could use one of the following ways:
22477 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
22478 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
22479 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
22480 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
22482 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
22483 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
22484 @value{GDBN} session.
22486 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
22487 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22488 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
22489 from trusted sources.
22491 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
22492 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
22493 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
22497 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
22498 also suppresses any such warning messages:
22501 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
22502 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22504 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
22505 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
22506 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
22507 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
22510 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
22511 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
22512 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
22513 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
22514 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
22515 recommended to be entered.
22517 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
22518 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
22519 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
22521 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
22522 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
22523 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
22524 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
22527 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22528 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
22529 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
22532 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
22533 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
22534 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
22535 for objfile "/tmp/true".
22536 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
22537 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
22538 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
22539 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
22540 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
22544 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
22545 @kindex set debug auto-load
22546 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
22547 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
22549 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
22550 @kindex show debug auto-load
22551 @item show debug auto-load
22552 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
22556 @node Messages/Warnings
22557 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
22559 @cindex verbose operation
22560 @cindex optional warnings
22561 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
22562 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
22563 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
22564 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
22566 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
22567 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
22568 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22571 @kindex set verbose
22572 @item set verbose on
22573 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22575 @item set verbose off
22576 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22578 @kindex show verbose
22580 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
22583 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
22584 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
22585 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
22590 @kindex set complaints
22591 @item set complaints @var{limit}
22592 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
22593 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
22594 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
22595 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
22597 @kindex show complaints
22598 @item show complaints
22599 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
22603 @anchor{confirmation requests}
22604 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
22605 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
22606 you try to run a program which is already running:
22610 The program being debugged has been started already.
22611 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
22614 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
22615 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
22619 @kindex set confirm
22621 @cindex confirmation
22622 @cindex stupid questions
22623 @item set confirm off
22624 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
22625 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
22626 automatically disables confirmation requests.
22628 @item set confirm on
22629 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
22631 @kindex show confirm
22633 Displays state of confirmation requests.
22637 @cindex command tracing
22638 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
22639 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
22640 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
22641 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
22644 @kindex set trace-commands
22645 @cindex command scripts, debugging
22646 @item set trace-commands on
22647 Enable command tracing.
22648 @item set trace-commands off
22649 Disable command tracing.
22650 @item show trace-commands
22651 Display the current state of command tracing.
22654 @node Debugging Output
22655 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
22656 @cindex optional debugging messages
22658 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
22659 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
22660 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
22661 section documents those commands.
22664 @kindex set exec-done-display
22665 @item set exec-done-display
22666 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
22667 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
22668 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
22669 @kindex show exec-done-display
22670 @item show exec-done-display
22671 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
22674 @cindex ARM AArch64
22675 @item set debug aarch64
22676 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
22677 The default is off.
22679 @item show debug aarch64
22680 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22682 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
22683 @cindex architecture debugging info
22684 @item set debug arch
22685 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
22686 @item show debug arch
22687 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
22688 @item set debug aix-solib
22689 @cindex AIX shared library debugging
22690 Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
22691 support module. The default is off.
22692 @item show debug aix-thread
22693 Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
22694 @item set debug aix-thread
22695 @cindex AIX threads
22696 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
22698 @item show debug aix-thread
22699 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
22700 @item set debug check-physname
22702 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
22703 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
22704 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
22705 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
22706 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
22707 both ways and display any discrepancies.
22708 @item show debug check-physname
22709 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
22710 @item set debug coff-pe-read
22711 @cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
22712 Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
22713 exported symbols. The default is off.
22714 @item show debug coff-pe-read
22715 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22716 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22717 @item set debug dwarf2-die
22718 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
22719 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
22720 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
22721 A value of zero turns off the display.
22722 @item show debug dwarf2-die
22723 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
22724 @item set debug dwarf2-read
22725 @cindex DWARF2 Reading
22726 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
22727 DWARF debug info. The default is 0 (off).
22728 A value of 1 provides basic information.
22729 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
22730 @item show debug dwarf2-read
22731 Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
22732 @item set debug displaced
22733 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
22734 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
22735 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
22736 @item show debug displaced
22737 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
22738 related to displaced stepping.
22739 @item set debug event
22740 @cindex event debugging info
22741 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
22743 @item show debug event
22744 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
22746 @item set debug expression
22747 @cindex expression debugging info
22748 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
22749 expression parsing. The default is off.
22750 @item show debug expression
22751 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
22752 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
22753 @item set debug frame
22754 @cindex frame debugging info
22755 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
22757 @item show debug frame
22758 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
22760 @item set debug gnu-nat
22761 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
22762 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
22763 @item show debug gnu-nat
22764 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
22765 @item set debug infrun
22766 @cindex inferior debugging info
22767 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
22768 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
22769 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
22770 @item show debug infrun
22771 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
22772 @item set debug jit
22773 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
22774 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
22775 @item show debug jit
22776 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
22777 @item set debug lin-lwp
22778 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
22779 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
22780 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
22781 @item show debug lin-lwp
22782 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
22783 @item set debug mach-o
22784 @cindex Mach-O symbols processing
22785 Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
22786 processing. The default is off.
22787 @item show debug mach-o
22788 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22789 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22790 @item set debug notification
22791 @cindex remote async notification debugging info
22792 Turns on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
22793 The default is off.
22794 @item show debug notification
22795 Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
22796 @item set debug observer
22797 @cindex observer debugging info
22798 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
22799 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
22800 @item show debug observer
22801 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
22802 @item set debug overload
22803 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
22804 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
22805 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
22807 @item show debug overload
22808 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
22810 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
22811 @cindex debug expression parser
22812 @item set debug parser
22813 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
22814 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
22815 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
22816 details. The default is off.
22817 @item show debug parser
22818 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
22819 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
22820 @cindex serial connections, debugging
22821 @cindex debug remote protocol
22822 @cindex remote protocol debugging
22823 @cindex display remote packets
22824 @item set debug remote
22825 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
22826 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
22827 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
22828 @item show debug remote
22829 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
22830 @item set debug serial
22831 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
22833 @item show debug serial
22834 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
22836 @item set debug solib-frv
22837 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
22838 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
22839 @item show debug solib-frv
22840 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
22842 @item set debug symfile
22843 @cindex symbol file functions
22844 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol file functions.
22845 The default is off. @xref{Files}.
22846 @item show debug symfile
22847 Show the current state of symbol file debugging messages.
22848 @item set debug symtab-create
22849 @cindex symbol table creation
22850 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
22851 The default is 0 (off).
22852 A value of 1 provides basic information.
22853 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
22854 @item show debug symtab-create
22855 Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
22856 @item set debug target
22857 @cindex target debugging info
22858 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
22859 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
22860 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
22861 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
22862 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
22863 @item show debug target
22864 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
22866 @item set debug timestamp
22867 @cindex timestampping debugging info
22868 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
22869 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
22871 @item show debug timestamp
22872 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
22874 @item set debugvarobj
22875 @cindex variable object debugging info
22876 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
22877 info. The default is off.
22878 @item show debugvarobj
22879 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
22881 @item set debug xml
22882 @cindex XML parser debugging
22883 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
22884 @item show debug xml
22885 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
22888 @node Other Misc Settings
22889 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
22890 @cindex miscellaneous settings
22893 @kindex set interactive-mode
22894 @item set interactive-mode
22895 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
22896 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
22897 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
22898 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
22899 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
22900 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
22901 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
22902 is, non-interactively otherwise.
22904 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
22905 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
22906 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
22907 inside a cygwin window.
22909 @kindex show interactive-mode
22910 @item show interactive-mode
22911 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
22914 @node Extending GDB
22915 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
22916 @cindex extending GDB
22918 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
22919 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
22920 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
22923 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
22924 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
22925 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
22926 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
22927 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22928 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
22930 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
22934 @kindex set script-extension
22935 @kindex show script-extension
22936 @item set script-extension off
22937 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22939 @item set script-extension soft
22940 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22941 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
22942 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
22943 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
22945 @item set script-extension strict
22946 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22947 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
22948 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
22950 @item show script-extension
22951 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
22956 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
22957 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22958 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
22962 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
22964 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
22965 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
22966 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
22970 * Define:: How to define your own commands
22971 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
22972 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
22973 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
22977 @subsection User-defined Commands
22979 @cindex user-defined command
22980 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
22981 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
22982 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
22983 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
22984 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
22985 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
22989 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22994 To execute the command use:
23001 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
23002 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
23003 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
23006 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
23007 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
23008 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
23009 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
23014 print $arg0 + $arg1
23017 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
23025 @item define @var{commandname}
23026 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
23027 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
23028 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
23029 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
23030 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
23031 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
23033 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
23034 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
23035 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23038 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
23039 @item document @var{commandname}
23040 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
23041 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
23042 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
23043 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
23044 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
23045 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
23047 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
23048 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
23049 does not change the documentation.
23051 @kindex dont-repeat
23052 @cindex don't repeat command
23054 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
23055 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
23056 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
23058 @kindex help user-defined
23059 @item help user-defined
23060 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
23061 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
23066 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
23067 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
23068 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
23069 definitions for all user-defined commands.
23070 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
23072 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
23073 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
23074 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
23075 @item show max-user-call-depth
23076 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
23077 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
23078 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
23079 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
23080 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
23083 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
23084 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
23086 When user-defined commands are executed, the
23087 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
23088 stops execution of the user-defined command.
23090 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
23091 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
23092 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
23093 messages when used in a user-defined command.
23096 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
23097 @cindex command hooks
23098 @cindex hooks, for commands
23099 @cindex hooks, pre-command
23102 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
23103 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
23104 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
23105 before that command.
23107 @cindex hooks, post-command
23109 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
23110 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
23111 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
23112 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
23113 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
23115 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
23116 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
23118 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
23119 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
23121 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
23122 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
23123 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
23124 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
23125 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
23127 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
23128 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
23133 handle SIGALRM nopass
23137 handle SIGALRM pass
23140 define hook-continue
23141 handle SIGALRM pass
23145 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
23146 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
23154 define hookpost-echo
23158 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
23159 <<<---Hello World--->>>
23164 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
23165 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
23166 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
23167 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
23169 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
23170 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
23171 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
23173 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
23174 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
23175 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
23177 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
23178 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
23180 @node Command Files
23181 @subsection Command Files
23183 @cindex command files
23184 @cindex scripting commands
23185 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
23186 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
23187 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
23188 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
23191 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
23192 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
23193 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
23194 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
23195 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
23199 @cindex execute commands from a file
23200 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
23201 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
23204 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
23205 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
23206 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
23207 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
23208 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
23210 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
23211 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
23212 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
23213 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
23214 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
23215 is not relevant to scripts.
23217 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
23218 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
23219 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
23220 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
23221 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23222 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
23223 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
23224 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
23225 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23226 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
23227 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
23228 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
23229 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
23230 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
23232 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
23233 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
23234 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
23236 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
23237 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
23238 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
23239 when called from command files.
23241 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
23242 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
23243 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
23244 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
23248 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
23251 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
23252 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
23253 would be directed to @file{log}.
23255 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
23256 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
23257 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
23258 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
23259 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
23260 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
23261 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
23262 conditionally, etc.
23269 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
23270 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
23271 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
23272 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
23273 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
23274 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
23275 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23279 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
23280 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
23281 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
23282 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
23283 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
23284 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
23288 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
23289 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
23292 @kindex loop_continue
23293 @item loop_continue
23294 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
23295 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
23296 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
23297 the controlling expression.
23299 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
23301 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
23302 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
23307 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
23309 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
23310 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
23311 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
23312 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
23317 @item echo @var{text}
23318 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
23319 @c because it is not in ANSI.
23320 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
23321 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
23322 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
23323 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
23324 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
23325 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
23326 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
23327 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
23328 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
23330 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
23331 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
23334 echo This is some text\n\
23335 which is continued\n\
23336 onto several lines.\n
23339 produces the same output as
23342 echo This is some text\n
23343 echo which is continued\n
23344 echo onto several lines.\n
23348 @item output @var{expression}
23349 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
23350 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
23351 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
23354 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
23355 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
23356 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
23357 Formats}, for more information.
23360 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23361 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23362 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
23363 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
23364 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
23365 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
23366 executing the code below:
23369 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
23372 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
23373 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
23374 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
23375 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
23376 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
23379 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
23382 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
23385 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
23386 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
23387 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
23391 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
23394 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
23398 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
23399 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
23402 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
23406 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
23409 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
23413 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
23414 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
23415 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
23416 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
23418 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
23419 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
23420 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
23421 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
23424 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
23425 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
23426 together with a floating point specifier.
23431 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
23434 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
23437 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
23440 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
23441 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
23442 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
23444 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
23445 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
23447 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
23449 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
23453 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23454 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23455 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
23460 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
23461 @cindex python scripting
23462 @cindex scripting with python
23464 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
23465 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
23466 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
23468 @cindex python directory
23469 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
23470 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
23471 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
23472 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
23473 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
23474 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
23476 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
23477 are written in Python and are located in the
23478 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
23479 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
23480 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
23483 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
23484 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
23485 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
23486 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
23489 @node Python Commands
23490 @subsection Python Commands
23491 @cindex python commands
23492 @cindex commands to access python
23494 @value{GDBN} provides two commands for accessing the Python interpreter,
23495 and one related setting:
23498 @kindex python-interactive
23500 @item python-interactive @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23501 @itemx pi @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23502 Without an argument, the @code{python-interactive} command can be used
23503 to start an interactive Python prompt. To return to @value{GDBN},
23504 type the @code{EOF} character (e.g., @kbd{Ctrl-D} on an empty prompt).
23506 Alternatively, a single-line Python command can be given as an
23507 argument and evaluated. If the command is an expression, the result
23508 will be printed; otherwise, nothing will be printed. For example:
23511 (@value{GDBP}) python-interactive 2 + 3
23517 @item python @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23518 @itemx py @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23519 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
23521 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
23522 argument as a Python command. For example:
23525 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
23529 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
23530 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
23531 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
23532 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
23533 containing @code{end}. For example:
23536 (@value{GDBP}) python
23538 End with a line saying just "end".
23544 @kindex set python print-stack
23545 @item set python print-stack
23546 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
23547 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
23548 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
23549 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
23550 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
23551 the message component of the error is printed.
23554 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
23558 @item source @file{script-name}
23559 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
23560 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
23561 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
23563 @item python execfile ("script-name")
23564 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
23565 and thus is always available.
23569 @subsection Python API
23571 @cindex programming in python
23573 You can get quick online help for @value{GDBN}'s Python API by issuing
23574 the command @w{@kbd{python help (gdb)}}.
23576 Functions and methods which have two or more optional arguments allow
23577 them to be specified using keyword syntax. This allows passing some
23578 optional arguments while skipping others. Example:
23579 @w{@code{gdb.some_function ('foo', bar = 1, baz = 2)}}.
23582 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
23583 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
23584 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
23585 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
23586 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
23587 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
23588 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
23589 * Type Printing API:: Pretty-printing types.
23590 * Frame Filter API:: Filtering Frames.
23591 * Frame Decorator API:: Decorating Frames.
23592 * Writing a Frame Filter:: Writing a Frame Filter.
23593 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
23594 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
23595 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
23596 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
23597 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
23598 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
23599 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
23600 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
23601 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23602 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing blocks from Python.
23603 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
23604 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
23605 * Line Tables In Python:: Python representation of line tables.
23606 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
23607 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
23609 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
23610 * Architectures In Python:: Python representation of architectures.
23614 @subsubsection Basic Python
23616 @cindex python stdout
23617 @cindex python pagination
23618 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
23619 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
23620 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
23621 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
23622 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
23624 Some care must be taken when writing Python code to run in
23625 @value{GDBN}. Two things worth noting in particular:
23629 @value{GDBN} install handlers for @code{SIGCHLD} and @code{SIGINT}.
23630 Python code must not override these, or even change the options using
23631 @code{sigaction}. If your program changes the handling of these
23632 signals, @value{GDBN} will most likely stop working correctly. Note
23633 that it is unfortunately common for GUI toolkits to install a
23634 @code{SIGCHLD} handler.
23637 @value{GDBN} takes care to mark its internal file descriptors as
23638 close-on-exec. However, this cannot be done in a thread-safe way on
23639 all platforms. Your Python programs should be aware of this and
23640 should both create new file descriptors with the close-on-exec flag
23641 set and arrange to close unneeded file descriptors before starting a
23645 @cindex python functions
23646 @cindex python module
23648 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
23649 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
23650 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
23651 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
23653 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
23654 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
23655 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
23658 @findex gdb.execute
23659 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
23660 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23661 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
23662 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
23664 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
23665 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
23666 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
23668 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
23669 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
23670 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
23671 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
23672 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
23673 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
23674 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
23677 @findex gdb.breakpoints
23678 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
23679 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
23680 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
23683 @findex gdb.parameter
23684 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
23685 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
23686 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
23687 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
23688 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
23690 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
23691 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
23692 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
23693 type, and returned.
23696 @findex gdb.history
23697 @defun gdb.history (number)
23698 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
23699 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
23700 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
23701 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
23702 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
23703 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
23704 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
23707 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
23708 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
23711 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
23712 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
23713 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
23714 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23715 @var{expression} must be a string.
23717 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
23718 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
23719 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
23720 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
23721 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23724 @findex gdb.find_pc_line
23725 @defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
23726 Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
23727 @var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
23728 value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
23729 @code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
23730 will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
23733 @findex gdb.post_event
23734 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
23735 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
23736 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
23737 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
23738 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
23739 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
23740 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
23742 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
23743 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
23744 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
23748 (@value{GDBP}) python
23752 > def __init__(self, message):
23753 > self.message = message;
23754 > def __call__(self):
23755 > gdb.write(self.message)
23757 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
23759 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
23761 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
23763 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
23765 >MyThread1().start()
23766 >MyThread2().start()
23768 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
23773 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
23774 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
23775 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
23776 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
23783 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23788 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23793 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23796 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23797 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
23802 @defun gdb.flush ()
23803 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
23804 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
23805 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
23806 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
23807 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
23814 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23819 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23824 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23828 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23829 call this function for the relevant stream.
23832 @findex gdb.target_charset
23833 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
23834 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
23835 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
23836 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
23839 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
23840 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
23841 Return the name of the current target wide character set
23842 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
23843 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
23847 @findex gdb.solib_name
23848 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
23849 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
23850 as a string, or @code{None}.
23853 @findex gdb.decode_line
23854 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
23855 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
23856 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
23857 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
23858 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
23859 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
23860 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
23861 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
23862 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
23863 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
23864 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
23867 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
23868 @anchor{prompt_hook}
23870 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
23871 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
23874 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
23875 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
23876 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
23877 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
23878 the current prompt.
23880 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
23881 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
23882 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
23885 @node Exception Handling
23886 @subsubsection Exception Handling
23887 @cindex python exceptions
23888 @cindex exceptions, python
23890 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
23891 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
23892 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
23893 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
23894 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
23895 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
23896 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
23899 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
23900 Traceback (most recent call last):
23901 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
23902 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
23905 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
23906 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
23907 Python exception depends on the error.
23911 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
23912 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
23913 versions of @value{GDBN}.
23915 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
23916 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
23918 @item gdb.MemoryError
23919 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
23920 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
23922 @item KeyboardInterrupt
23923 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
23924 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
23927 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
23928 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
23929 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
23932 @findex gdb.GdbError
23933 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
23934 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
23935 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
23936 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
23937 to handle this case. Example:
23941 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23942 > """Greet the whole world."""
23943 > def __init__ (self):
23944 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
23945 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
23946 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
23947 > if len (argv) != 0:
23948 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
23949 > print "Hello, World!"
23952 (gdb) hello-world 42
23953 hello-world takes no arguments
23956 @node Values From Inferior
23957 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
23958 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
23959 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
23961 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
23962 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
23963 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
23964 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
23965 fetching values when necessary.
23967 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
23968 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
23969 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
23976 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
23977 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
23979 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
23980 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
23981 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
23982 can access its @code{foo} element with:
23985 bar = some_val['foo']
23988 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
23990 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
23991 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
23992 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
23995 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
23996 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
23997 execute this function, call it like so:
24000 result = some_val (10,20)
24003 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
24006 The following attributes are provided:
24008 @defvar Value.address
24009 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
24010 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
24011 this attribute holds @code{None}.
24014 @cindex optimized out value in Python
24015 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
24016 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
24017 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
24021 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
24022 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
24025 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
24026 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
24027 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
24028 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
24029 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
24030 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
24031 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
24032 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
24035 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
24036 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
24037 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
24038 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
24041 @defvar Value.is_lazy
24042 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
24043 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
24044 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
24048 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
24051 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
24052 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
24056 The following methods are provided:
24058 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
24059 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
24060 this object initializer. Specifically:
24063 @item Python boolean
24064 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
24067 @item Python integer
24068 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
24069 current architecture.
24072 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
24073 current architecture.
24076 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
24077 current architecture.
24079 @item Python string
24080 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
24083 @item @code{gdb.Value}
24084 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
24086 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
24087 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
24088 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
24089 its result is used.
24093 @defun Value.cast (type)
24094 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
24095 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
24096 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
24097 reason, this method throws an exception.
24100 @defun Value.dereference ()
24101 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
24102 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
24103 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
24110 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
24111 @code{foo} points to like this:
24114 bar = foo.dereference ()
24117 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
24118 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
24120 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
24121 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
24122 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
24123 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
24124 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
24125 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
24126 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
24127 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
24131 typedef int *intptr;
24135 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
24138 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
24139 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
24140 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
24141 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
24142 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
24143 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
24146 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
24147 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
24148 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
24151 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
24152 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
24153 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
24154 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
24155 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
24156 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
24157 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
24158 example). The results are however identical when applied on
24159 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
24160 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
24163 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
24164 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
24165 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
24166 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
24167 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
24168 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
24169 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
24170 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
24171 in your C@t{++} program as
24179 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
24180 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
24181 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
24182 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
24185 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
24186 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
24187 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
24190 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
24191 corresponding to @code{val}.
24194 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
24195 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
24196 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
24199 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
24200 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
24201 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
24204 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
24205 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
24206 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
24207 throw an exception.
24209 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
24210 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
24213 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
24214 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
24215 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
24216 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
24217 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
24219 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
24220 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
24221 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
24222 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
24223 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
24224 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
24225 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
24226 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
24227 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
24229 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
24230 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
24232 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
24233 fetched and converted to the given length.
24236 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
24237 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
24238 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
24239 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
24241 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
24242 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
24243 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
24244 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
24245 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
24247 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
24248 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
24249 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
24250 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
24251 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
24252 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
24254 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
24255 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
24256 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
24257 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
24260 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
24261 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
24262 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
24263 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
24264 will produce a Python exception.
24266 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
24269 This method does not return a value.
24273 @node Types In Python
24274 @subsubsection Types In Python
24275 @cindex types in Python
24276 @cindex Python, working with types
24279 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
24282 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24285 @findex gdb.lookup_type
24286 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
24287 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
24288 type to look up. It must be a string.
24290 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24291 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24293 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
24294 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
24297 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
24298 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
24299 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
24300 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
24303 bar = some_type['foo']
24306 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
24307 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
24308 @code{gdb.Field} class.
24310 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
24313 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
24314 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
24317 @defvar Type.sizeof
24318 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
24319 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
24320 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
24324 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
24325 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
24326 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
24327 @code{None} is returned.
24330 The following methods are provided:
24332 @defun Type.fields ()
24333 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
24334 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
24335 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
24336 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
24337 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
24338 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
24340 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
24343 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
24344 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
24345 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
24346 enumeration member's integer representation.
24349 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
24352 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
24353 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
24354 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
24356 @item is_base_class
24357 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
24358 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
24359 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
24360 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
24363 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
24364 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
24365 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
24368 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
24369 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
24373 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24374 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
24375 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24376 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24377 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
24378 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
24379 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24382 @defun Type.vector (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24383 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a vector of this
24384 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24385 the vector; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24386 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the vector, and the
24387 second argument is the upper bound of the vector. A vector's length
24388 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24390 The difference between an @code{array} and a @code{vector} is that
24391 arrays behave like in C: when used in expressions they decay to a pointer
24392 to the first element whereas vectors are treated as first class values.
24395 @defun Type.const ()
24396 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24397 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
24400 @defun Type.volatile ()
24401 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24402 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
24405 @defun Type.unqualified ()
24406 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
24407 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
24411 @defun Type.range ()
24412 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
24413 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
24414 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
24415 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24418 @defun Type.reference ()
24419 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
24423 @defun Type.pointer ()
24424 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
24428 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
24429 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
24430 after removing all layers of typedefs.
24433 @defun Type.target ()
24434 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
24437 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
24438 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
24439 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
24440 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
24441 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
24442 target type is the aliased type.
24444 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
24448 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
24449 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
24450 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
24451 @var{n}th template argument.
24453 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
24454 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
24456 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24457 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24461 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
24462 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
24463 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24466 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
24467 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24468 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24469 The type is a pointer.
24471 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24472 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24473 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24474 The type is an array.
24476 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24477 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24478 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24479 The type is a structure.
24481 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
24482 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24483 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24484 The type is a union.
24486 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24487 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24488 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24489 The type is an enum.
24491 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24492 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24493 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24494 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
24496 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24497 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24498 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24499 The type is a function.
24501 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
24502 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24503 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24504 The type is an integer type.
24506 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
24507 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24508 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24509 A floating point type.
24511 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
24512 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24513 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24514 The special type @code{void}.
24516 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
24517 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24518 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24521 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24522 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24523 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24524 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
24526 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
24527 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24528 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24529 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
24530 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
24532 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24533 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24534 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24535 A string of bits. It is deprecated.
24537 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24538 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24539 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24540 An unknown or erroneous type.
24542 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24543 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24544 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24545 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
24547 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24548 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24549 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24550 A pointer-to-member-function.
24552 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24553 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24554 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24555 A pointer-to-member.
24557 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
24558 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24559 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24562 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24563 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24564 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24567 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24568 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24569 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24572 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24573 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24574 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24575 A complex float type.
24577 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24578 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24579 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24580 A typedef to some other type.
24582 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24583 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24584 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24585 A C@t{++} namespace.
24587 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24588 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24589 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24590 A decimal floating point type.
24592 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24593 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24594 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24595 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
24596 convenience functions.
24599 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
24600 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
24602 @node Pretty Printing API
24603 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
24605 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
24607 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
24608 specific interface, defined here.
24610 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
24611 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
24612 children of the pretty-printer's value.
24614 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24615 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
24616 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
24617 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
24618 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
24620 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
24621 as though the value has no children.
24624 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
24625 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
24626 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
24627 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
24630 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
24633 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
24637 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
24638 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
24639 @code{set print array}.
24642 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
24643 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
24647 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
24648 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
24649 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
24650 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
24651 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
24652 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
24656 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
24657 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
24658 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
24660 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
24661 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
24662 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
24663 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
24664 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
24665 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
24666 the result of @code{children}.
24668 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
24670 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
24671 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
24672 another pretty-printer.
24674 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
24675 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
24676 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
24677 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
24678 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
24680 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
24681 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
24683 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
24686 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
24687 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
24689 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
24690 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
24691 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
24692 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
24693 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
24696 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
24697 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
24699 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
24700 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
24701 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
24702 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
24703 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
24704 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
24707 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
24708 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
24709 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
24710 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
24713 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
24714 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
24715 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
24716 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
24717 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
24718 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
24719 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
24720 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
24721 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
24722 object is returned.
24724 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
24725 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
24726 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
24727 object is returned.
24729 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
24730 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
24731 the pretty-printer is out of date.
24733 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
24734 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
24735 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
24736 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
24737 with a broken printer.
24739 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
24740 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
24741 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
24742 the printer is enabled.
24744 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
24745 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
24746 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
24748 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
24749 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
24751 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
24752 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
24756 class StdStringPrinter(object):
24757 "Print a std::string"
24759 def __init__(self, val):
24762 def to_string(self):
24763 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
24765 def display_hint(self):
24769 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
24770 example above might be written.
24773 def str_lookup_function(val):
24774 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
24775 if lookup_tag == None:
24777 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
24778 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
24779 return StdStringPrinter(val)
24783 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
24784 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
24785 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
24786 returns @code{None}.
24788 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
24789 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
24790 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
24791 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
24792 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
24795 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
24796 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
24797 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
24798 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
24799 the current objfile.
24801 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
24802 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
24803 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
24804 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
24805 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
24806 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
24807 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
24808 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
24811 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
24812 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
24815 def register_printers(objfile):
24816 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
24820 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
24823 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
24824 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
24827 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
24828 There are a few things that can be improved on.
24829 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
24830 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
24831 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
24833 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
24834 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
24835 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
24836 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
24837 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
24838 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
24840 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
24841 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
24842 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
24844 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
24847 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
24848 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
24851 Here are the printers:
24855 """Print a foo object."""
24857 def __init__(self, val):
24860 def to_string(self):
24861 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
24862 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
24865 """Print a bar object."""
24867 def __init__(self, val):
24870 def to_string(self):
24871 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
24872 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
24875 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
24876 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
24877 the object that handles the lookup.
24880 import gdb.printing
24882 def build_pretty_printer():
24883 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
24885 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
24886 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
24890 And here is the autoload support:
24893 import gdb.printing
24895 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
24896 gdb.current_objfile(),
24897 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
24900 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
24901 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
24904 (gdb) info pretty-printer
24911 @node Type Printing API
24912 @subsubsection Type Printing API
24913 @cindex type printing API for Python
24915 @value{GDBN} provides a way for Python code to customize type display.
24916 This is mainly useful for substituting canonical typedef names for
24919 @cindex type printer
24920 A @dfn{type printer} is just a Python object conforming to a certain
24921 protocol. A simple base class implementing the protocol is provided;
24922 see @ref{gdb.types}. A type printer must supply at least:
24924 @defivar type_printer enabled
24925 A boolean which is True if the printer is enabled, and False
24926 otherwise. This is manipulated by the @code{enable type-printer}
24927 and @code{disable type-printer} commands.
24930 @defivar type_printer name
24931 The name of the type printer. This must be a string. This is used by
24932 the @code{enable type-printer} and @code{disable type-printer}
24936 @defmethod type_printer instantiate (self)
24937 This is called by @value{GDBN} at the start of type-printing. It is
24938 only called if the type printer is enabled. This method must return a
24939 new object that supplies a @code{recognize} method, as described below.
24943 When displaying a type, say via the @code{ptype} command, @value{GDBN}
24944 will compute a list of type recognizers. This is done by iterating
24945 first over the per-objfile type printers (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}),
24946 followed by the per-progspace type printers (@pxref{Progspaces In
24947 Python}), and finally the global type printers.
24949 @value{GDBN} will call the @code{instantiate} method of each enabled
24950 type printer. If this method returns @code{None}, then the result is
24951 ignored; otherwise, it is appended to the list of recognizers.
24953 Then, when @value{GDBN} is going to display a type name, it iterates
24954 over the list of recognizers. For each one, it calls the recognition
24955 function, stopping if the function returns a non-@code{None} value.
24956 The recognition function is defined as:
24958 @defmethod type_recognizer recognize (self, type)
24959 If @var{type} is not recognized, return @code{None}. Otherwise,
24960 return a string which is to be printed as the name of @var{type}.
24961 @var{type} will be an instance of @code{gdb.Type} (@pxref{Types In
24965 @value{GDBN} uses this two-pass approach so that type printers can
24966 efficiently cache information without holding on to it too long. For
24967 example, it can be convenient to look up type information in a type
24968 printer and hold it for a recognizer's lifetime; if a single pass were
24969 done then type printers would have to make use of the event system in
24970 order to avoid holding information that could become stale as the
24973 @node Frame Filter API
24974 @subsubsection Filtering Frames.
24975 @cindex frame filters api
24977 Frame filters are Python objects that manipulate the visibility of a
24978 frame or frames when a backtrace (@pxref{Backtrace}) is printed by
24981 Only commands that print a backtrace, or, in the case of @sc{gdb/mi}
24982 commands (@pxref{GDB/MI}), those that return a collection of frames
24983 are affected. The commands that work with frame filters are:
24985 @code{backtrace} (@pxref{backtrace-command,, The backtrace command}),
24986 @code{-stack-list-frames}
24987 (@pxref{-stack-list-frames,, The -stack-list-frames command}),
24988 @code{-stack-list-variables} (@pxref{-stack-list-variables,, The
24989 -stack-list-variables command}), @code{-stack-list-arguments}
24990 @pxref{-stack-list-arguments,, The -stack-list-arguments command}) and
24991 @code{-stack-list-locals} (@pxref{-stack-list-locals,, The
24992 -stack-list-locals command}).
24994 A frame filter works by taking an iterator as an argument, applying
24995 actions to the contents of that iterator, and returning another
24996 iterator (or, possibly, the same iterator it was provided in the case
24997 where the filter does not perform any operations). Typically, frame
24998 filters utilize tools such as the Python's @code{itertools} module to
24999 work with and create new iterators from the source iterator.
25000 Regardless of how a filter chooses to apply actions, it must not alter
25001 the underlying @value{GDBN} frame or frames, or attempt to alter the
25002 call-stack within @value{GDBN}. This preserves data integrity within
25003 @value{GDBN}. Frame filters are executed on a priority basis and care
25004 should be taken that some frame filters may have been executed before,
25005 and that some frame filters will be executed after.
25007 An important consideration when designing frame filters, and well
25008 worth reflecting upon, is that frame filters should avoid unwinding
25009 the call stack if possible. Some stacks can run very deep, into the
25010 tens of thousands in some cases. To search every frame when a frame
25011 filter executes may be too expensive at that step. The frame filter
25012 cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it may have to
25013 iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
25014 @value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames. If
25015 the filter can defer unwinding frames until frame decorators are
25016 executed, after the last filter has executed, it should. @xref{Frame
25017 Decorator API}, for more information on decorators. Also, there are
25018 examples for both frame decorators and filters in later chapters.
25019 @xref{Writing a Frame Filter}, for more information.
25021 The Python dictionary @code{gdb.frame_filters} contains key/object
25022 pairings that comprise a frame filter. Frame filters in this
25023 dictionary are called @code{global} frame filters, and they are
25024 available when debugging all inferiors. These frame filters must
25025 register with the dictionary directly. In addition to the
25026 @code{global} dictionary, there are other dictionaries that are loaded
25027 with different inferiors via auto-loading (@pxref{Python
25028 Auto-loading}). The two other areas where frame filter dictionaries
25029 can be found are: @code{gdb.Progspace} which contains a
25030 @code{frame_filters} dictionary attribute, and each @code{gdb.Objfile}
25031 object which also contains a @code{frame_filters} dictionary
25034 When a command is executed from @value{GDBN} that is compatible with
25035 frame filters, @value{GDBN} combines the @code{global},
25036 @code{gdb.Progspace} and all @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries currently
25037 loaded. All of the @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries are combined, as
25038 several frames, and thus several object files, might be in use.
25039 @value{GDBN} then prunes any frame filter whose @code{enabled}
25040 attribute is @code{False}. This pruned list is then sorted according
25041 to the @code{priority} attribute in each filter.
25043 Once the dictionaries are combined, pruned and sorted, @value{GDBN}
25044 creates an iterator which wraps each frame in the call stack in a
25045 @code{FrameDecorator} object, and calls each filter in order. The
25046 output from the previous filter will always be the input to the next
25049 Frame filters have a mandatory interface which each frame filter must
25050 implement, defined here:
25052 @defun FrameFilter.filter (iterator)
25053 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a frame filter when it has
25054 reached the order in the priority list for that filter.
25056 For example, if there are four frame filters:
25067 The order that the frame filters will be called is:
25070 Filter3 -> Filter2 -> Filter1 -> Filter4
25073 Note that the output from @code{Filter3} is passed to the input of
25074 @code{Filter2}, and so on.
25076 This @code{filter} method is passed a Python iterator. This iterator
25077 contains a sequence of frame decorators that wrap each
25078 @code{gdb.Frame}, or a frame decorator that wraps another frame
25079 decorator. The first filter that is executed in the sequence of frame
25080 filters will receive an iterator entirely comprised of default
25081 @code{FrameDecorator} objects. However, after each frame filter is
25082 executed, the previous frame filter may have wrapped some or all of
25083 the frame decorators with their own frame decorator. As frame
25084 decorators must also conform to a mandatory interface, these
25085 decorators can be assumed to act in a uniform manner (@pxref{Frame
25088 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
25089 protocol. Each item in the iterator must be an object conforming to
25090 the frame decorator interface. If a frame filter does not wish to
25091 perform any operations on this iterator, it should return that
25092 iterator untouched.
25094 This method is not optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will
25095 raise and print an error.
25098 @defvar FrameFilter.name
25099 The @code{name} attribute must be Python string which contains the
25100 name of the filter displayed by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Frame Filter
25101 Management}). This attribute may contain any combination of letters
25102 or numbers. Care should be taken to ensure that it is unique. This
25103 attribute is mandatory.
25106 @defvar FrameFilter.enabled
25107 The @code{enabled} attribute must be Python boolean. This attribute
25108 indicates to @value{GDBN} whether the frame filter is enabled, and
25109 should be considered when frame filters are executed. If
25110 @code{enabled} is @code{True}, then the frame filter will be executed
25111 when any of the backtrace commands detailed earlier in this chapter
25112 are executed. If @code{enabled} is @code{False}, then the frame
25113 filter will not be executed. This attribute is mandatory.
25116 @defvar FrameFilter.priority
25117 The @code{priority} attribute must be Python integer. This attribute
25118 controls the order of execution in relation to other frame filters.
25119 There are no imposed limits on the range of @code{priority} other than
25120 it must be a valid integer. The higher the @code{priority} attribute,
25121 the sooner the frame filter will be executed in relation to other
25122 frame filters. Although @code{priority} can be negative, it is
25123 recommended practice to assume zero is the lowest priority that a
25124 frame filter can be assigned. Frame filters that have the same
25125 priority are executed in unsorted order in that priority slot. This
25126 attribute is mandatory.
25129 @node Frame Decorator API
25130 @subsubsection Decorating Frames.
25131 @cindex frame decorator api
25133 Frame decorators are sister objects to frame filters (@pxref{Frame
25134 Filter API}). Frame decorators are applied by a frame filter and can
25135 only be used in conjunction with frame filters.
25137 The purpose of a frame decorator is to customize the printed content
25138 of each @code{gdb.Frame} in commands where frame filters are executed.
25139 This concept is called decorating a frame. Frame decorators decorate
25140 a @code{gdb.Frame} with Python code contained within each API call.
25141 This separates the actual data contained in a @code{gdb.Frame} from
25142 the decorated data produced by a frame decorator. This abstraction is
25143 necessary to maintain integrity of the data contained in each
25146 Frame decorators have a mandatory interface, defined below.
25148 @value{GDBN} already contains a frame decorator called
25149 @code{FrameDecorator}. This contains substantial amounts of
25150 boilerplate code to decorate the content of a @code{gdb.Frame}. It is
25151 recommended that other frame decorators inherit and extend this
25152 object, and only to override the methods needed.
25154 @defun FrameDecorator.elided (self)
25156 The @code{elided} method groups frames together in a hierarchical
25157 system. An example would be an interpreter, where multiple low-level
25158 frames make up a single call in the interpreted language. In this
25159 example, the frame filter would elide the low-level frames and present
25160 a single high-level frame, representing the call in the interpreted
25161 language, to the user.
25163 The @code{elided} function must return an iterable and this iterable
25164 must contain the frames that are being elided wrapped in a suitable
25165 frame decorator. If no frames are being elided this function may
25166 return an empty iterable, or @code{None}. Elided frames are indented
25167 from normal frames in a @code{CLI} backtrace, or in the case of
25168 @code{GDB/MI}, are placed in the @code{children} field of the eliding
25171 It is the frame filter's task to also filter out the elided frames from
25172 the source iterator. This will avoid printing the frame twice.
25175 @defun FrameDecorator.function (self)
25177 This method returns the name of the function in the frame that is to
25180 This method must return a Python string describing the function, or
25183 If this function returns @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print any
25184 data for this field.
25187 @defun FrameDecorator.address (self)
25189 This method returns the address of the frame that is to be printed.
25191 This method must return a Python numeric integer type of sufficient
25192 size to describe the address of the frame, or @code{None}.
25194 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25195 any data for this field.
25198 @defun FrameDecorator.filename (self)
25200 This method returns the filename and path associated with this frame.
25202 This method must return a Python string containing the filename and
25203 the path to the object file backing the frame, or @code{None}.
25205 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25206 any data for this field.
25209 @defun FrameDecorator.line (self):
25211 This method returns the line number associated with the current
25212 position within the function addressed by this frame.
25214 This method must return a Python integer type, or @code{None}.
25216 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25217 any data for this field.
25220 @defun FrameDecorator.frame_args (self)
25221 @anchor{frame_args}
25223 This method must return an iterable, or @code{None}. Returning an
25224 empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame arguments will not be
25225 printed for this frame. This iterable must contain objects that
25226 implement two methods, described here.
25228 This object must implement a @code{argument} method which takes a
25229 single @code{self} parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Symbol}
25230 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}), or a Python string. The object must also
25231 implement a @code{value} method which takes a single @code{self}
25232 parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From
25233 Inferior}), a Python value, or @code{None}. If the @code{value}
25234 method returns @code{None}, and the @code{argument} method returns a
25235 @code{gdb.Symbol}, @value{GDBN} will look-up and print the value of
25236 the @code{gdb.Symbol} automatically.
25241 class SymValueWrapper():
25243 def __init__(self, symbol, value):
25253 class SomeFrameDecorator()
25256 def frame_args(self):
25259 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
25263 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Only add
25264 # symbols that are arguments.
25266 if not sym.is_argument:
25268 args.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
25270 # Add example synthetic argument.
25271 args.append(SymValueWrapper(``foo'', 42))
25277 @defun FrameDecorator.frame_locals (self)
25279 This method must return an iterable or @code{None}. Returning an
25280 empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame local arguments will not be
25281 printed for this frame.
25283 The object interface, the description of the various strategies for
25284 reading frame locals, and the example are largely similar to those
25285 described in the @code{frame_args} function, (@pxref{frame_args,,The
25286 frame filter frame_args function}). Below is a modified example:
25289 class SomeFrameDecorator()
25292 def frame_locals(self):
25295 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
25299 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Add all
25300 # symbols, except arguments.
25302 if sym.is_argument:
25304 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
25306 # Add an example of a synthetic local variable.
25307 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(``bar'', 99))
25313 @defun FrameDecorator.inferior_frame (self):
25315 This method must return the underlying @code{gdb.Frame} that this
25316 frame decorator is decorating. @value{GDBN} requires the underlying
25317 frame for internal frame information to determine how to print certain
25318 values when printing a frame.
25321 @node Writing a Frame Filter
25322 @subsubsection Writing a Frame Filter
25323 @cindex writing a frame filter
25325 There are three basic elements that a frame filter must implement: it
25326 must correctly implement the documented interface (@pxref{Frame Filter
25327 API}), it must register itself with @value{GDBN}, and finally, it must
25328 decide if it is to work on the data provided by @value{GDBN}. In all
25329 cases, whether it works on the iterator or not, each frame filter must
25330 return an iterator. A bare-bones frame filter follows the pattern in
25331 the following example.
25336 class FrameFilter():
25338 def __init__(self):
25339 # Frame filter attribute creation.
25341 # 'name' is the name of the filter that GDB will display.
25343 # 'priority' is the priority of the filter relative to other
25346 # 'enabled' is a boolean that indicates whether this filter is
25347 # enabled and should be executed.
25350 self.priority = 100
25351 self.enabled = True
25353 # Register this frame filter with the global frame_filters
25355 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25357 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25358 # Just return the iterator.
25362 The frame filter in the example above implements the three
25363 requirements for all frame filters. It implements the API, self
25364 registers, and makes a decision on the iterator (in this case, it just
25365 returns the iterator untouched).
25367 The first step is attribute creation and assignment, and as shown in
25368 the comments the filter assigns the following attributes: @code{name},
25369 @code{priority} and whether the filter should be enabled with the
25370 @code{enabled} attribute.
25372 The second step is registering the frame filter with the dictionary or
25373 dictionaries that the frame filter has interest in. As shown in the
25374 comments, this filter just registers itself with the global dictionary
25375 @code{gdb.frame_filters}. As noted earlier, @code{gdb.frame_filters}
25376 is a dictionary that is initialized in the @code{gdb} module when
25377 @value{GDBN} starts. What dictionary a filter registers with is an
25378 important consideration. Generally, if a filter is specific to a set
25379 of code, it should be registered either in the @code{objfile} or
25380 @code{progspace} dictionaries as they are specific to the program
25381 currently loaded in @value{GDBN}. The global dictionary is always
25382 present in @value{GDBN} and is never unloaded. Any filters registered
25383 with the global dictionary will exist until @value{GDBN} exits. To
25384 avoid filters that may conflict, it is generally better to register
25385 frame filters against the dictionaries that more closely align with
25386 the usage of the filter currently in question. @xref{Python
25387 Auto-loading}, for further information on auto-loading Python scripts.
25389 @value{GDBN} takes a hands-off approach to frame filter registration,
25390 therefore it is the frame filter's responsibility to ensure
25391 registration has occurred, and that any exceptions are handled
25392 appropriately. In particular, you may wish to handle exceptions
25393 relating to Python dictionary key uniqueness. It is mandatory that
25394 the dictionary key is the same as frame filter's @code{name}
25395 attribute. When a user manages frame filters (@pxref{Frame Filter
25396 Management}), the names @value{GDBN} will display are those contained
25397 in the @code{name} attribute.
25399 The final step of this example is the implementation of the
25400 @code{filter} method. As shown in the example comments, we define the
25401 @code{filter} method and note that the method must take an iterator,
25402 and also must return an iterator. In this bare-bones example, the
25403 frame filter is not very useful as it just returns the iterator
25404 untouched. However this is a valid operation for frame filters that
25405 have the @code{enabled} attribute set, but decide not to operate on
25408 In the next example, the frame filter operates on all frames and
25409 utilizes a frame decorator to perform some work on the frames.
25410 @xref{Frame Decorator API}, for further information on the frame
25411 decorator interface.
25413 This example works on inlined frames. It highlights frames which are
25414 inlined by tagging them with an ``[inlined]'' tag. By applying a
25415 frame decorator to all frames with the Python @code{itertools imap}
25416 method, the example defers actions to the frame decorator. Frame
25417 decorators are only processed when @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace.
25419 This introduces a new decision making topic: whether to perform
25420 decision making operations at the filtering step, or at the printing
25421 step. In this example's approach, it does not perform any filtering
25422 decisions at the filtering step beyond mapping a frame decorator to
25423 each frame. This allows the actual decision making to be performed
25424 when each frame is printed. This is an important consideration, and
25425 well worth reflecting upon when designing a frame filter. An issue
25426 that frame filters should avoid is unwinding the stack if possible.
25427 Some stacks can run very deep, into the tens of thousands in some
25428 cases. To search every frame to determine if it is inlined ahead of
25429 time may be too expensive at the filtering step. The frame filter
25430 cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it would have
25431 to iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
25432 @value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames.
25434 In this example decision making can be deferred to the printing step.
25435 As each frame is printed, the frame decorator can examine each frame
25436 in turn when @value{GDBN} iterates. From a performance viewpoint,
25437 this is the most appropriate decision to make as it avoids duplicating
25438 the effort that the printing step would undertake anyway. Also, if
25439 there are many frame filters unwinding the stack during filtering, it
25440 can substantially delay the printing of the backtrace which will
25441 result in large memory usage, and a poor user experience.
25444 class InlineFilter():
25446 def __init__(self):
25447 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25448 self.priority = 100
25449 self.enabled = True
25450 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25452 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25453 frame_iter = itertools.imap(InlinedFrameDecorator,
25458 This frame filter is somewhat similar to the earlier example, except
25459 that the @code{filter} method applies a frame decorator object called
25460 @code{InlinedFrameDecorator} to each element in the iterator. The
25461 @code{imap} Python method is light-weight. It does not proactively
25462 iterate over the iterator, but rather creates a new iterator which
25463 wraps the existing one.
25465 Below is the frame decorator for this example.
25468 class InlinedFrameDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25470 def __init__(self, fobj):
25471 super(InlinedFrameDecorator, self).__init__(fobj)
25473 def function(self):
25474 frame = fobj.inferior_frame()
25475 name = str(frame.name())
25477 if frame.type() == gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25478 name = name + " [inlined]"
25483 This frame decorator only defines and overrides the @code{function}
25484 method. It lets the supplied @code{FrameDecorator}, which is shipped
25485 with @value{GDBN}, perform the other work associated with printing
25488 The combination of these two objects create this output from a
25492 #0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25493 #1 0x00400566 in max [inlined] (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:21
25494 #2 0x00400566 in main () at inline.c:31
25497 So in the case of this example, a frame decorator is applied to all
25498 frames, regardless of whether they may be inlined or not. As
25499 @value{GDBN} iterates over the iterator produced by the frame filters,
25500 @value{GDBN} executes each frame decorator which then makes a decision
25501 on what to print in the @code{function} callback. Using a strategy
25502 like this is a way to defer decisions on the frame content to printing
25505 @subheading Eliding Frames
25507 It might be that the above example is not desirable for representing
25508 inlined frames, and a hierarchical approach may be preferred. If we
25509 want to hierarchically represent frames, the @code{elided} frame
25510 decorator interface might be preferable.
25512 This example approaches the issue with the @code{elided} method. This
25513 example is quite long, but very simplistic. It is out-of-scope for
25514 this section to write a complete example that comprehensively covers
25515 all approaches of finding and printing inlined frames. However, this
25516 example illustrates the approach an author might use.
25518 This example comprises of three sections.
25521 class InlineFrameFilter():
25523 def __init__(self):
25524 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25525 self.priority = 100
25526 self.enabled = True
25527 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25529 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25530 return ElidingInlineIterator(frame_iter)
25533 This frame filter is very similar to the other examples. The only
25534 difference is this frame filter is wrapping the iterator provided to
25535 it (@code{frame_iter}) with a custom iterator called
25536 @code{ElidingInlineIterator}. This again defers actions to when
25537 @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace, as the iterator is not traversed
25540 The iterator for this example is as follows. It is in this section of
25541 the example where decisions are made on the content of the backtrace.
25544 class ElidingInlineIterator:
25545 def __init__(self, ii):
25546 self.input_iterator = ii
25548 def __iter__(self):
25552 frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25554 if frame.inferior_frame().type() != gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25558 eliding_frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25559 except StopIteration:
25561 return ElidingFrameDecorator(eliding_frame, [frame])
25564 This iterator implements the Python iterator protocol. When the
25565 @code{next} function is called (when @value{GDBN} prints each frame),
25566 the iterator checks if this frame decorator, @code{frame}, is wrapping
25567 an inlined frame. If it is not, it returns the existing frame decorator
25568 untouched. If it is wrapping an inlined frame, it assumes that the
25569 inlined frame was contained within the next oldest frame,
25570 @code{eliding_frame}, which it fetches. It then creates and returns a
25571 frame decorator, @code{ElidingFrameDecorator}, which contains both the
25572 elided frame, and the eliding frame.
25575 class ElidingInlineDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25577 def __init__(self, frame, elided_frames):
25578 super(ElidingInlineDecorator, self).__init__(frame)
25580 self.elided_frames = elided_frames
25583 return iter(self.elided_frames)
25586 This frame decorator overrides one function and returns the inlined
25587 frame in the @code{elided} method. As before it lets
25588 @code{FrameDecorator} do the rest of the work involved in printing
25589 this frame. This produces the following output.
25592 #0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25593 #2 0x00400529 in main () at inline.c:25
25594 #1 0x00400529 in max (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:15
25597 In that output, @code{max} which has been inlined into @code{main} is
25598 printed hierarchically. Another approach would be to combine the
25599 @code{function} method, and the @code{elided} method to both print a
25600 marker in the inlined frame, and also show the hierarchical
25603 @node Inferiors In Python
25604 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
25605 @cindex inferiors in Python
25607 @findex gdb.Inferior
25608 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
25609 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
25610 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
25611 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
25613 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25616 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
25617 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
25620 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
25621 Return an object representing the current inferior.
25624 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
25626 @defvar Inferior.num
25627 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
25630 @defvar Inferior.pid
25631 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
25635 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
25636 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
25637 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
25640 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
25642 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
25643 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
25644 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
25645 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
25646 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
25647 at the time the method is called.
25650 @defun Inferior.threads ()
25651 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
25652 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
25653 return an empty tuple.
25656 @findex Inferior.read_memory
25657 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
25658 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
25659 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
25660 or a string. It can be modified and given to the
25661 @code{Inferior.write_memory} function. In @code{Python} 3, the return
25662 value is a @code{memoryview} object.
25665 @findex Inferior.write_memory
25666 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
25667 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
25668 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
25669 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25670 object returned from @code{Inferior.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
25671 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
25674 @findex gdb.search_memory
25675 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
25676 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
25677 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
25678 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
25679 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25680 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
25681 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
25682 the pattern could not be found.
25685 @node Events In Python
25686 @subsubsection Events In Python
25687 @cindex inferior events in Python
25689 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
25690 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
25693 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
25694 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
25695 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
25697 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
25698 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
25699 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
25700 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
25702 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
25703 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
25704 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
25707 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
25708 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
25709 will no longer receive notifications of events.
25712 Here is an example:
25715 def exit_handler (event):
25716 print "event type: exit"
25717 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
25719 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
25722 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
25723 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
25724 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
25725 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
25726 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
25729 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
25730 details of the events they emit:
25735 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25737 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25738 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
25739 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
25740 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
25741 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
25742 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
25744 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
25745 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
25746 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
25749 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25751 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
25752 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
25754 @item events.exited
25755 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
25756 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
25757 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
25758 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
25759 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
25760 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
25761 the attribute does not exist.
25763 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
25764 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
25768 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25770 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
25771 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
25772 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25773 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
25775 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25777 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
25778 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
25780 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
25781 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
25782 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
25783 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25786 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25788 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
25789 been hit, and has the following attributes:
25791 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
25792 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
25793 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
25794 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
25796 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
25797 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
25798 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
25799 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
25802 @item events.new_objfile
25803 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
25804 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
25806 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
25807 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
25808 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
25813 @node Threads In Python
25814 @subsubsection Threads In Python
25815 @cindex threads in python
25817 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
25818 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
25819 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
25821 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25824 @findex gdb.selected_thread
25825 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
25826 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
25827 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
25830 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
25832 @defvar InferiorThread.name
25833 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
25834 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
25835 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
25836 returns @code{None}.
25838 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
25839 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
25840 user-specified thread name.
25843 @defvar InferiorThread.num
25844 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
25847 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
25848 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
25849 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
25850 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
25851 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
25852 does not use that identifier.
25855 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
25857 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
25858 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
25859 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
25860 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
25861 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
25862 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25865 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
25866 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
25870 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
25871 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
25874 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
25875 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
25878 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
25879 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
25882 @node Commands In Python
25883 @subsubsection Commands In Python
25885 @cindex commands in python
25886 @cindex python commands
25887 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
25888 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
25889 class, most commonly using a subclass.
25891 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
25892 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
25893 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
25894 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
25896 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
25897 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
25898 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
25899 an exception is raised.
25901 There is no support for multi-line commands.
25903 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
25904 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
25905 new command in the help system.
25907 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
25908 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
25909 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
25910 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
25911 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
25912 error will occur when completion is attempted.
25914 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
25915 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
25918 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
25919 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
25920 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
25921 not documented.'' is used.
25924 @cindex don't repeat Python command
25925 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
25926 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
25927 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
25928 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
25929 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
25932 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
25933 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
25935 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
25936 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
25938 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
25939 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
25940 that the command came from elsewhere.
25942 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
25943 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
25945 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
25946 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
25947 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
25948 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
25949 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
25950 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
25954 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
25955 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
25960 @cindex completion of Python commands
25961 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
25962 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
25963 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
25964 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
25965 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
25968 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
25969 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
25970 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
25971 using a word-breaking heuristic.
25973 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
25976 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
25977 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
25978 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
25979 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
25980 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
25981 sequence are ignored.
25984 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
25985 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
25986 function is invoked, and its result is used.
25989 All other results are treated as though there were no available
25994 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
25995 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
25996 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
25997 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
25998 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
25999 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
26002 @findex COMMAND_NONE
26003 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
26004 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
26005 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
26006 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
26008 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
26009 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
26010 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
26011 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
26012 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
26013 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26014 commands in this category.
26016 @findex COMMAND_DATA
26017 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
26018 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
26019 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
26020 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
26021 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
26024 @findex COMMAND_STACK
26025 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
26026 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
26027 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
26028 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
26029 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
26030 list of commands in this category.
26032 @findex COMMAND_FILES
26033 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
26034 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
26035 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
26036 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
26037 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26038 commands in this category.
26040 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
26041 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
26042 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
26043 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
26044 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
26045 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
26046 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
26047 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26048 commands in this category.
26050 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
26051 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
26052 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
26053 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
26054 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
26055 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
26056 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
26058 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
26059 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
26060 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
26061 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
26062 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
26063 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
26066 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
26067 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
26068 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
26069 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
26070 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
26071 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26072 commands in this category.
26074 @findex COMMAND_USER
26075 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
26076 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
26077 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
26078 does not fit in one of the other categories.
26079 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
26080 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
26081 (@pxref{Sequences}).
26083 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
26084 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
26085 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
26086 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
26087 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
26088 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
26089 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
26092 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
26093 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
26094 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
26095 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
26096 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
26097 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
26098 commands in this category.
26101 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
26102 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
26103 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
26104 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
26107 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
26108 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
26109 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
26110 This constant means that no completion should be done.
26112 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
26113 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
26114 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
26115 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
26117 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
26118 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
26119 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
26120 This constant means that location completion should be done.
26121 @xref{Specify Location}.
26123 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
26124 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
26125 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
26126 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
26129 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
26130 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
26131 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
26132 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
26135 @findex COMPLETE_EXPRESSION
26136 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_EXPRESSION
26137 @item gdb.COMPLETE_EXPRESSION
26138 This constant means that completion should be done on expressions.
26139 Often this means completing on symbol names, but some language
26140 parsers also have support for completing on field names.
26143 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
26144 implemented in Python:
26147 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
26148 """Greet the whole world."""
26150 def __init__ (self):
26151 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
26153 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
26154 print "Hello, World!"
26159 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26160 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26161 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26162 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
26164 @node Parameters In Python
26165 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
26167 @cindex parameters in python
26168 @cindex python parameters
26169 @tindex gdb.Parameter
26171 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
26172 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
26175 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
26176 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
26178 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
26179 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
26180 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
26181 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
26182 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
26184 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
26185 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
26186 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
26187 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
26189 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
26190 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
26191 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
26192 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
26193 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
26194 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
26195 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
26197 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
26198 can be found, an exception is raised.
26200 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
26201 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
26202 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
26204 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
26205 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
26206 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
26209 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
26210 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
26211 represent the possible values for the parameter.
26213 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
26214 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
26216 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
26217 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
26218 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
26221 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
26222 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
26223 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
26224 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
26228 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
26229 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
26230 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
26231 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
26235 @defvar Parameter.value
26236 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
26237 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
26238 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
26241 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
26242 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
26244 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
26245 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
26246 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
26247 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
26248 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
26251 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
26252 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
26253 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
26254 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
26255 current value. This method must return a string.
26258 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
26259 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
26263 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
26264 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
26265 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
26266 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
26267 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
26269 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26270 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26271 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26272 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
26273 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
26274 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
26276 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
26277 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
26278 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
26279 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
26280 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
26282 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
26283 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
26284 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
26285 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
26286 to mean ``unlimited''.
26288 @findex PARAM_STRING
26289 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
26290 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
26291 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
26292 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
26293 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
26296 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26297 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26298 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26299 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
26300 passed through untranslated.
26302 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26303 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26304 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26305 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
26307 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
26308 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
26309 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
26310 The value is a filename. This is just like
26311 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
26313 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
26314 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
26315 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
26316 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
26317 is interpreted as itself.
26320 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
26321 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
26322 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
26323 constants provided when the parameter is created.
26326 @node Functions In Python
26327 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
26329 @cindex writing convenience functions
26330 @cindex convenience functions in python
26331 @cindex python convenience functions
26332 @tindex gdb.Function
26334 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
26335 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
26336 class @code{gdb.Function}.
26338 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
26339 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
26340 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
26341 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
26342 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
26343 the given @var{name}.
26345 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
26346 string for the new class.
26349 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
26350 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
26351 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
26352 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
26353 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
26354 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
26355 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
26356 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
26358 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
26359 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
26360 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
26363 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
26364 be implemented in Python:
26367 class Greet (gdb.Function):
26368 """Return string to greet someone.
26369 Takes a name as argument."""
26371 def __init__ (self):
26372 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
26374 def invoke (self, name):
26375 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
26380 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26381 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26382 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26383 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
26385 Now you can use the function in an expression:
26388 (gdb) print $greet("Bob")
26392 @node Progspaces In Python
26393 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
26395 @cindex progspaces in python
26396 @tindex gdb.Progspace
26398 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
26399 of an address space.
26400 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
26401 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26402 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
26403 about program spaces.
26405 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
26408 @findex gdb.current_progspace
26409 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
26410 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
26411 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
26414 @findex gdb.progspaces
26415 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
26416 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
26419 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
26422 @defvar Progspace.filename
26423 The file name of the progspace as a string.
26426 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
26427 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26428 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26429 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26430 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26431 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26435 @defvar Progspace.type_printers
26436 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26437 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26440 @defvar Progspace.frame_filters
26441 The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26442 objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26445 @node Objfiles In Python
26446 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
26448 @cindex objfiles in python
26449 @tindex gdb.Objfile
26451 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
26452 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
26453 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
26454 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
26455 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
26457 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
26460 @findex gdb.current_objfile
26461 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
26462 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
26463 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
26464 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
26465 this function returns @code{None}.
26468 @findex gdb.objfiles
26469 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
26470 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
26471 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26474 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
26477 @defvar Objfile.filename
26478 The file name of the objfile as a string.
26481 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
26482 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26483 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26484 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26485 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26486 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26490 @defvar Objfile.type_printers
26491 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26492 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26495 @defvar Objfile.frame_filters
26496 The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26497 objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26500 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
26502 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
26503 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
26504 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
26505 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
26506 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
26507 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26510 @node Frames In Python
26511 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
26513 @cindex frames in python
26514 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
26515 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
26516 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
26517 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
26518 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
26519 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
26521 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
26525 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
26529 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
26531 @findex gdb.selected_frame
26532 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
26533 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
26536 @findex gdb.newest_frame
26537 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
26538 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
26541 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26542 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
26543 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
26544 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
26547 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
26549 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
26550 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
26551 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
26552 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
26553 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26556 @defun Frame.name ()
26557 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
26561 @defun Frame.architecture ()
26562 Returns the @code{gdb.Architecture} object corresponding to the frame's
26563 architecture. @xref{Architectures In Python}.
26566 @defun Frame.type ()
26567 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
26569 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
26570 An ordinary stack frame.
26572 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
26573 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
26574 inferior function call.
26576 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
26577 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
26578 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
26580 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
26581 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
26583 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
26584 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
26585 it calls into a signal handler.
26587 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
26588 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
26590 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
26591 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
26596 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
26597 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
26598 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
26599 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
26600 function to a string. The value can be one of:
26603 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
26604 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
26606 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
26607 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result. This is no
26608 longer used by @value{GDBN}, and is kept only for backward
26611 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
26612 This frame is the outermost.
26614 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
26615 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
26616 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
26618 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
26619 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
26620 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
26621 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
26623 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
26624 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
26625 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
26626 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
26627 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
26630 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
26631 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
26632 one to unwind further.
26634 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
26635 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
26636 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
26637 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
26638 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
26639 versions. Using it, you could write:
26641 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
26642 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26643 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
26644 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
26651 Returns the frame's resume address.
26654 @defun Frame.block ()
26655 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26658 @defun Frame.function ()
26659 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
26660 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
26663 @defun Frame.older ()
26664 Return the frame that called this frame.
26667 @defun Frame.newer ()
26668 Return the frame called by this frame.
26671 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
26672 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
26673 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
26676 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
26677 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
26678 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
26679 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
26680 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
26681 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
26682 @code{gdb.Block} object.
26685 @defun Frame.select ()
26686 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
26690 @node Blocks In Python
26691 @subsubsection Accessing blocks from Python.
26693 @cindex blocks in python
26696 In @value{GDBN}, symbols are stored in blocks. A block corresponds
26697 roughly to a scope in the source code. Blocks are organized
26698 hierarchically, and are represented individually in Python as a
26699 @code{gdb.Block}. Blocks rely on debugging information being
26702 A frame has a block. Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more
26703 in-depth discussion of frames.
26705 The outermost block is known as the @dfn{global block}. The global
26706 block typically holds public global variables and functions.
26708 The block nested just inside the global block is the @dfn{static
26709 block}. The static block typically holds file-scoped variables and
26712 @value{GDBN} provides a method to get a block's superblock, but there
26713 is currently no way to examine the sub-blocks of a block, or to
26714 iterate over all the blocks in a symbol table (@pxref{Symbol Tables In
26717 Here is a short example that should help explain blocks:
26720 /* This is in the global block. */
26723 /* This is in the static block. */
26724 static int file_scope;
26726 /* 'function' is in the global block, and 'argument' is
26727 in a block nested inside of 'function'. */
26728 int function (int argument)
26730 /* 'local' is in a block inside 'function'. It may or may
26731 not be in the same block as 'argument'. */
26735 /* 'inner' is in a block whose superblock is the one holding
26739 /* If this call is expanded by the compiler, you may see
26740 a nested block here whose function is 'inline_function'
26741 and whose superblock is the one holding 'inner'. */
26742 inline_function ();
26747 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
26748 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
26749 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
26750 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
26751 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
26754 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26757 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
26758 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
26759 Return the innermost @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc}
26760 value. If the block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified,
26761 the function will return @code{None}.
26764 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
26766 @defun Block.is_valid ()
26767 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
26768 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
26769 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
26770 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
26771 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
26772 during iteration over symbols of the block.
26775 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
26777 @defvar Block.start
26778 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26782 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26785 @defvar Block.function
26786 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
26787 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
26788 attribute is not writable.
26790 For ordinary function blocks, the superblock is the static block.
26791 However, you should note that it is possible for a function block to
26792 have a superblock that is not the static block -- for instance this
26793 happens for an inlined function.
26796 @defvar Block.superblock
26797 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
26798 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26801 @defvar Block.global_block
26802 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26806 @defvar Block.static_block
26807 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26811 @defvar Block.is_global
26812 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
26813 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
26817 @defvar Block.is_static
26818 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
26819 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
26822 @node Symbols In Python
26823 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
26825 @cindex symbols in python
26828 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
26829 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
26830 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
26831 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
26833 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26836 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
26837 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
26838 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
26839 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
26842 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
26843 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
26844 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
26845 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
26846 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
26847 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
26848 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
26851 The result is a tuple of two elements.
26852 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26854 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
26855 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
26856 otherwise it is @code{False}.
26857 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
26860 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
26861 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
26862 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
26863 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
26865 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
26866 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
26867 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
26868 module and described later in this chapter.
26870 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26874 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
26876 @defvar Symbol.type
26877 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
26878 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
26879 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26882 @defvar Symbol.symtab
26883 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
26884 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
26885 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26888 @defvar Symbol.line
26889 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
26890 This is an integer.
26893 @defvar Symbol.name
26894 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
26897 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
26898 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
26899 This attribute is not writable.
26902 @defvar Symbol.print_name
26903 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
26904 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
26905 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
26908 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
26909 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
26910 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
26911 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
26914 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
26915 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
26916 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
26917 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
26920 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
26921 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
26924 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
26925 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
26928 @defvar Symbol.is_function
26929 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
26932 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
26933 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
26936 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
26938 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
26939 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
26940 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
26941 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
26942 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
26943 invalid at the time the method is called.
26946 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
26947 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
26948 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
26949 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
26950 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
26951 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
26955 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26956 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26959 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26960 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26961 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26962 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
26963 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
26964 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26965 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26966 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26967 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26968 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
26970 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26971 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26972 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26973 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
26974 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26975 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26976 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26977 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
26978 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26979 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26980 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26981 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
26982 contains everything minus functions and types.
26983 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26984 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26985 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
26986 This domain contains all functions.
26987 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26988 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26989 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26990 This domain contains all types.
26993 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26994 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26997 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26998 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26999 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
27000 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
27001 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
27002 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
27003 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
27004 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
27005 Value is constant int.
27006 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
27007 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
27008 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
27009 Value is at a fixed address.
27010 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
27011 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
27012 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
27013 Value is in a register.
27014 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
27015 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
27016 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
27017 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
27018 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
27019 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
27020 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
27021 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
27022 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
27023 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
27024 offset, not the value itself.
27025 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
27026 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
27027 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
27028 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
27029 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
27031 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
27032 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
27033 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
27034 Value is a local variable.
27035 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
27036 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
27037 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
27038 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
27040 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
27041 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
27042 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
27044 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
27045 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
27046 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
27047 Value is a byte-sequence.
27048 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
27049 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
27050 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
27051 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
27052 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
27054 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
27055 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
27056 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
27057 The value does not actually exist in the program.
27058 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
27059 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
27060 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
27061 The value's address is a computed location.
27064 @node Symbol Tables In Python
27065 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
27067 @cindex symbol tables in python
27069 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
27071 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
27072 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
27073 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
27074 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
27075 @xref{Frames In Python}.
27077 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
27078 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
27080 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
27082 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
27083 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
27084 This attribute is not writable.
27087 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
27088 Indicates the start of the address range occupied by code for the
27089 current source line. This attribute is not writable.
27092 @defvar Symtab_and_line.last
27093 Indicates the end of the address range occupied by code for the current
27094 source line. This attribute is not writable.
27097 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
27098 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
27099 attribute is not writable.
27102 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
27104 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
27105 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
27106 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
27107 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
27108 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
27109 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
27110 invalid at the time the method is called.
27113 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
27115 @defvar Symtab.filename
27116 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
27119 @defvar Symtab.objfile
27120 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
27121 This attribute is not writable.
27124 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
27126 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
27127 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
27128 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
27129 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
27130 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
27131 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
27134 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
27135 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
27138 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
27139 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
27140 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
27143 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
27144 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
27145 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
27148 @defun Symtab.linetable ()
27149 Return the line table associated with the symbol table.
27150 @xref{Line Tables In Python}.
27153 @node Line Tables In Python
27154 @subsubsection Manipulating line tables using Python
27156 @cindex line tables in python
27157 @tindex gdb.LineTable
27159 Python code can request and inspect line table information from a
27160 symbol table that is loaded in @value{GDBN}. A line table is a
27161 mapping of source lines to their executable locations in memory. To
27162 acquire the line table information for a particular symbol table, use
27163 the @code{linetable} function (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}).
27165 A @code{gdb.LineTable} is iterable. The iterator returns
27166 @code{LineTableEntry} objects that correspond to the source line and
27167 address for each line table entry. @code{LineTableEntry} objects have
27168 the following attributes:
27170 @defvar LineTableEntry.line
27171 The source line number for this line table entry. This number
27172 corresponds to the actual line of source. This attribute is not
27176 @defvar LineTableEntry.pc
27177 The address that is associated with the line table entry where the
27178 executable code for that source line resides in memory. This
27179 attribute is not writable.
27182 As there can be multiple addresses for a single source line, you may
27183 receive multiple @code{LineTableEntry} objects with matching
27184 @code{line} attributes, but with different @code{pc} attributes. The
27185 iterator is sorted in ascending @code{pc} order. Here is a small
27186 example illustrating iterating over a line table.
27189 symtab = gdb.selected_frame().find_sal().symtab
27190 linetable = symtab.linetable()
27191 for line in linetable:
27192 print "Line: "+str(line.line)+" Address: "+hex(line.pc)
27195 This will have the following output:
27198 Line: 33 Address: 0x4005c8L
27199 Line: 37 Address: 0x4005caL
27200 Line: 39 Address: 0x4005d2L
27201 Line: 40 Address: 0x4005f8L
27202 Line: 42 Address: 0x4005ffL
27203 Line: 44 Address: 0x400608L
27204 Line: 42 Address: 0x40060cL
27205 Line: 45 Address: 0x400615L
27208 In addition to being able to iterate over a @code{LineTable}, it also
27209 has the following direct access methods:
27211 @defun LineTable.line (line)
27212 Return a Python @code{Tuple} of @code{LineTableEntry} objects for any
27213 entries in the line table for the given @var{line}. @var{line} refers
27214 to the source code line. If there are no entries for that source code
27215 @var{line}, the Python @code{None} is returned.
27218 @defun LineTable.has_line (line)
27219 Return a Python @code{Boolean} indicating whether there is an entry in
27220 the line table for this source line. Return @code{True} if an entry
27221 is found, or @code{False} if not.
27224 @defun LineTable.source_lines ()
27225 Return a Python @code{List} of the source line numbers in the symbol
27226 table. Only lines with executable code locations are returned. The
27227 contents of the @code{List} will just be the source line entries
27228 represented as Python @code{Long} values.
27231 @node Breakpoints In Python
27232 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
27234 @cindex breakpoints in python
27235 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
27237 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
27240 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal @r{[},temporary@r{]]]]})
27241 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the location
27242 of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a watchpoint. The
27243 contents can be any location recognized by the @code{break} command,
27244 or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch} command. The
27245 optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create from the types
27246 defined later in this chapter. This argument can be either:
27247 @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
27248 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal}
27249 argument allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The
27250 breakpoint will neither be reported when created, nor will it be
27251 listed in the output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed
27252 with the @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional
27253 @var{temporary} argument makes the breakpoint a temporary breakpoint.
27254 Temporary breakpoints are deleted after they have been hit. Any
27255 further access to the Python breakpoint after it has been hit will
27256 result in a runtime error (as that breakpoint has now been
27257 automatically deleted). The optional @var{wp_class} argument defines
27258 the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
27259 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it
27260 is assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
27263 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
27264 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
27265 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
27266 If this method is defined in a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
27267 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
27268 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
27269 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
27270 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
27272 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
27273 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
27274 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
27275 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
27276 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
27277 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
27279 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
27280 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
27281 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
27282 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
27285 Example @code{stop} implementation:
27288 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
27290 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
27297 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
27302 @findex gdb.WP_READ
27304 Read only watchpoint.
27307 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
27309 Write only watchpoint.
27312 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
27313 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
27314 Read/Write watchpoint.
27317 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
27318 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
27319 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
27320 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
27321 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
27322 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
27323 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
27326 @defun Breakpoint.delete
27327 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
27328 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
27329 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
27332 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
27333 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
27334 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
27337 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
27338 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
27339 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
27341 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
27342 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
27343 @code{silent} attribute.
27346 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
27347 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
27348 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
27349 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
27352 @defvar Breakpoint.task
27353 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
27354 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
27355 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
27359 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
27360 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
27361 This attribute is writable.
27364 @defvar Breakpoint.number
27365 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
27366 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
27369 @defvar Breakpoint.type
27370 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
27371 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
27375 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
27376 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
27377 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
27378 attribute is not writable.
27381 @defvar Breakpoint.temporary
27382 This attribute indicates whether the breakpoint was created as a
27383 temporary breakpoint. Temporary breakpoints are automatically deleted
27384 after that breakpoint has been hit. Access to this attribute, and all
27385 other attributes and functions other than the @code{is_valid}
27386 function, will result in an error after the breakpoint has been hit
27387 (as it has been automatically deleted). This attribute is not
27391 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
27395 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
27396 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
27397 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
27398 Normal code breakpoint.
27400 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
27401 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
27402 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
27403 Watchpoint breakpoint.
27405 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27406 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27407 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27408 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
27410 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27411 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27412 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27413 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
27415 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27416 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27417 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27418 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
27421 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
27422 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
27423 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
27426 @defvar Breakpoint.location
27427 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
27428 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
27429 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
27430 attribute is not writable.
27433 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
27434 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
27435 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
27436 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
27437 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27440 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
27441 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
27442 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
27443 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
27446 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
27447 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
27448 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
27449 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
27450 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27453 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
27454 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
27456 @cindex python finish breakpoints
27457 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
27459 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
27460 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
27461 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
27462 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
27463 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
27464 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
27467 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
27468 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
27469 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
27470 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
27471 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
27472 details about this argument.
27475 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
27476 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
27477 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
27478 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
27479 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
27481 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
27485 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
27487 print "normal finish"
27490 def out_of_scope ():
27491 print "abnormal finish"
27495 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
27496 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
27497 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
27498 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
27499 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
27500 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
27504 @node Lazy Strings In Python
27505 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
27507 @cindex lazy strings in python
27508 @tindex gdb.LazyString
27510 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
27511 encoded until it is needed.
27513 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
27514 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
27515 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
27516 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
27517 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
27518 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
27519 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
27520 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
27521 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
27523 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
27525 @defun LazyString.value ()
27526 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
27527 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
27528 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
27529 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
27532 @defvar LazyString.address
27533 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
27537 @defvar LazyString.length
27538 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
27539 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
27540 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
27543 @defvar LazyString.encoding
27544 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
27545 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
27546 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
27547 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
27551 @defvar LazyString.type
27552 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
27553 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
27554 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
27555 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
27559 @node Architectures In Python
27560 @subsubsection Python representation of architectures
27561 @cindex Python architectures
27563 @value{GDBN} uses architecture specific parameters and artifacts in a
27564 number of its various computations. An architecture is represented
27565 by an instance of the @code{gdb.Architecture} class.
27567 A @code{gdb.Architecture} class has the following methods:
27569 @defun Architecture.name ()
27570 Return the name (string value) of the architecture.
27573 @defun Architecture.disassemble (@var{start_pc} @r{[}, @var{end_pc} @r{[}, @var{count}@r{]]})
27574 Return a list of disassembled instructions starting from the memory
27575 address @var{start_pc}. The optional arguments @var{end_pc} and
27576 @var{count} determine the number of instructions in the returned list.
27577 If both the optional arguments @var{end_pc} and @var{count} are
27578 specified, then a list of at most @var{count} disassembled instructions
27579 whose start address falls in the closed memory address interval from
27580 @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If @var{end_pc} is not
27581 specified, but @var{count} is specified, then @var{count} number of
27582 instructions starting from the address @var{start_pc} are returned. If
27583 @var{count} is not specified but @var{end_pc} is specified, then all
27584 instructions whose start address falls in the closed memory address
27585 interval from @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If neither
27586 @var{end_pc} nor @var{count} are specified, then a single instruction at
27587 @var{start_pc} is returned. For all of these cases, each element of the
27588 returned list is a Python @code{dict} with the following string keys:
27593 The value corresponding to this key is a Python long integer capturing
27594 the memory address of the instruction.
27597 The value corresponding to this key is a string value which represents
27598 the instruction with assembly language mnemonics. The assembly
27599 language flavor used is the same as that specified by the current CLI
27600 variable @code{disassembly-flavor}. @xref{Machine Code}.
27603 The value corresponding to this key is the length (integer value) of the
27604 instruction in bytes.
27609 @node Python Auto-loading
27610 @subsection Python Auto-loading
27611 @cindex Python auto-loading
27613 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
27614 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
27615 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
27616 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
27617 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27618 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27620 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
27621 debugging commands and scripts.
27623 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
27624 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
27627 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
27628 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
27629 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
27630 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
27632 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
27633 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
27634 @item show auto-load python-scripts
27635 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
27637 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
27638 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
27639 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
27640 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
27641 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
27643 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
27644 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
27645 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27646 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
27647 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
27648 an error message for each one is problematic.
27650 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
27655 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
27657 Yes py-section-script.py
27658 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
27659 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
27663 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
27664 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
27665 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
27666 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers and frame-filters.
27669 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27670 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27671 * Which flavor to choose?::
27674 @node objfile-gdb.py file
27675 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27676 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
27678 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
27679 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
27680 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
27681 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
27682 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
27683 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
27685 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
27686 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
27688 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27689 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27691 For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
27692 scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
27693 found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
27694 its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
27695 is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
27696 between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
27699 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
27700 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
27701 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
27702 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
27703 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
27704 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
27706 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
27707 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
27709 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
27710 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
27711 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
27712 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
27714 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
27715 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
27716 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
27717 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
27718 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
27719 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
27722 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
27723 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
27724 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
27726 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
27727 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
27728 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
27729 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
27732 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
27733 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
27734 @var{objfile} is opened.
27735 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
27736 is evaluated more than once.
27738 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
27739 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27740 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27742 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
27743 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
27744 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
27745 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
27747 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
27748 current directory and then along the source search path
27749 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
27750 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
27751 directory is not relevant to scripts.
27753 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
27754 for example, this GCC macro:
27757 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
27758 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
27760 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
27762 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
27768 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
27771 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
27774 The script name may include directories if desired.
27776 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27777 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27779 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
27780 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
27782 @node Which flavor to choose?
27783 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
27785 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
27786 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
27788 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
27792 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
27795 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
27797 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
27798 in the source search path.
27799 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
27800 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
27803 Doesn't require source code additions.
27806 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
27810 Works with static linking.
27812 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
27813 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
27814 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
27815 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
27818 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
27820 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
27821 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
27824 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
27826 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
27827 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
27828 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
27829 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
27830 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
27831 top of the source tree to the source search path.
27834 @node Python modules
27835 @subsection Python modules
27836 @cindex python modules
27838 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
27841 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
27842 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
27843 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
27847 @subsubsection gdb.printing
27848 @cindex gdb.printing
27850 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27854 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
27855 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
27856 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
27857 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
27859 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27860 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
27861 corresponding API for the subprinters.
27863 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27864 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
27865 regular expressions.
27866 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
27868 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
27869 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
27870 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
27871 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
27872 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
27873 the @code{enum} type to look up.
27875 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
27876 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
27877 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
27878 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
27879 if a printer with the same name already exists.
27883 @subsubsection gdb.types
27886 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27887 @code{gdb.Type} objects.
27890 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
27891 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
27892 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
27897 typedef const int const_int;
27899 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
27900 int main () @{ return 0; @}
27907 (gdb) python import gdb.types
27908 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
27909 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
27913 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
27914 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
27915 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
27917 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
27918 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
27920 @item deep_items (@var{type})
27921 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
27922 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
27923 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
27924 union fields. For example:
27938 Then in @value{GDBN}:
27940 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
27941 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
27942 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
27944 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
27945 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
27948 @item get_type_recognizers ()
27949 Return a list of the enabled type recognizers for the current context.
27950 This is called by @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process
27951 (@pxref{Type Printing API}).
27953 @item apply_type_recognizers (recognizers, type_obj)
27954 Apply the type recognizers, @var{recognizers}, to the type object
27955 @var{type_obj}. If any recognizer returns a string, return that
27956 string. Otherwise, return @code{None}. This is called by
27957 @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process (@pxref{Type Printing
27960 @item register_type_printer (locus, printer)
27961 This is a convenience function to register a type printer.
27962 @var{printer} is the type printer to register. It must implement the
27963 type printer protocol. @var{locus} is either a @code{gdb.Objfile}, in
27964 which case the printer is registered with that objfile; a
27965 @code{gdb.Progspace}, in which case the printer is registered with
27966 that progspace; or @code{None}, in which case the printer is
27967 registered globally.
27970 This is a base class that implements the type printer protocol. Type
27971 printers are encouraged, but not required, to derive from this class.
27972 It defines a constructor:
27974 @defmethod TypePrinter __init__ (self, name)
27975 Initialize the type printer with the given name. The new printer
27976 starts in the enabled state.
27982 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
27985 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
27988 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
27989 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
27990 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
27991 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
27993 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
27997 Substitute a backslash.
27999 Substitute an ESC character.
28001 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
28003 Substitute a newline.
28005 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
28007 Substitute a carriage return.
28009 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
28011 Substitute the version of GDB.
28013 Substitute the current working directory.
28015 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
28016 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
28017 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
28018 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
28020 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
28026 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
28027 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
28030 @exdent will return the string:
28033 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
28038 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
28039 @cindex aliases for commands
28041 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
28042 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
28043 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
28044 that involves less typing.
28046 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
28047 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
28048 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
28050 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
28051 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
28052 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
28054 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
28059 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
28063 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
28064 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
28067 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
28068 that is being aliased.
28070 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
28071 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
28072 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
28074 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
28075 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
28077 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
28078 of a command so that there is less to type.
28079 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
28080 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
28081 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
28082 The following will accomplish this.
28085 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
28088 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
28089 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
28090 for it with the @samp{document} command.
28091 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
28093 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
28094 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
28095 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
28099 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
28100 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
28101 (gdb) set p elms 20
28103 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
28106 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
28107 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
28108 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
28110 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
28111 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
28114 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
28117 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
28118 alias for a more complex command.
28119 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
28122 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
28127 @chapter Command Interpreters
28128 @cindex command interpreters
28130 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
28131 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
28132 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
28134 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
28135 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
28136 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
28137 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
28139 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
28140 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
28141 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
28142 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
28146 @cindex console interpreter
28147 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
28148 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
28149 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
28152 @cindex mi interpreter
28153 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
28154 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
28155 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
28159 @cindex mi2 interpreter
28160 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
28163 @cindex mi1 interpreter
28164 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
28168 @cindex invoke another interpreter
28169 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
28170 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
28171 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
28172 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
28173 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
28174 the IDE inoperable!
28176 @kindex interpreter-exec
28177 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
28178 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
28179 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
28180 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
28183 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
28186 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
28187 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
28190 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
28192 @cindex Text User Interface
28195 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
28196 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
28197 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
28198 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
28199 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
28202 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
28203 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
28204 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
28205 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
28206 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
28209 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
28210 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
28211 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
28212 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
28213 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
28216 @section TUI Overview
28218 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
28222 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
28223 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
28224 managed using readline.
28227 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
28228 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
28231 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
28234 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
28235 when their values change.
28238 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
28239 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
28240 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
28241 indicates the breakpoint type:
28245 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
28248 Breakpoint which was never hit.
28251 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
28254 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
28257 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
28261 Breakpoint is enabled.
28264 Breakpoint is disabled.
28267 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
28268 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
28271 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
28272 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
28283 source and assembly,
28286 source and registers, or
28289 assembly and registers.
28292 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
28296 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
28297 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
28300 Gives the current process or thread number.
28301 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
28304 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
28305 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
28306 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
28307 the string @code{??} is displayed.
28310 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
28311 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
28314 Indicates the current program counter address.
28318 @section TUI Key Bindings
28319 @cindex TUI key bindings
28321 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
28322 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
28323 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
28325 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
28326 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
28328 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
28329 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
28338 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
28339 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
28340 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
28341 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
28342 The screen is then refreshed.
28346 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
28347 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
28348 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
28350 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
28354 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
28355 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
28356 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
28357 previous layout and the new one.
28359 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
28363 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
28364 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
28365 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
28367 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
28371 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
28372 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
28375 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
28380 Scroll the active window one page up.
28384 Scroll the active window one page down.
28388 Scroll the active window one line up.
28392 Scroll the active window one line down.
28396 Scroll the active window one column left.
28400 Scroll the active window one column right.
28404 Refresh the screen.
28407 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
28408 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
28409 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
28410 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
28411 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
28413 @node TUI Single Key Mode
28414 @section TUI Single Key Mode
28415 @cindex TUI single key mode
28417 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
28418 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
28419 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
28422 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28426 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28430 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28434 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28438 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28440 exit the SingleKey mode.
28442 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28446 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28450 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28454 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28458 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28463 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
28464 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
28465 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
28466 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
28467 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
28468 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
28472 @section TUI-specific Commands
28473 @cindex TUI commands
28475 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
28476 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
28477 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
28478 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
28480 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
28481 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
28482 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
28483 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
28484 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
28489 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
28493 Display the next layout.
28496 Display the previous layout.
28499 Display the source window only.
28502 Display the assembly window only.
28505 Display the source and assembly window.
28508 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
28512 Make the next window active for scrolling.
28515 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
28518 Make the source window active for scrolling.
28521 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
28524 Make the register window active for scrolling.
28527 Make the command window active for scrolling.
28531 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
28533 @item tui reg float
28535 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
28537 @item tui reg general
28538 Show the general registers in the register window.
28541 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
28542 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
28543 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
28544 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
28546 @item tui reg system
28547 Show the system registers in the register window.
28551 Update the source window and the current execution point.
28553 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
28554 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
28556 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
28557 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
28560 @item tabset @var{nchars}
28562 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
28565 @node TUI Configuration
28566 @section TUI Configuration Variables
28567 @cindex TUI configuration variables
28569 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
28572 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
28573 @kindex set tui border-kind
28574 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
28575 The possible values are the following:
28578 Use a space character to draw the border.
28581 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
28584 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
28585 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
28588 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
28589 @kindex set tui border-mode
28590 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
28591 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
28592 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
28593 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
28596 Use normal attributes to display the border.
28602 Use reverse video mode.
28605 Use half bright mode.
28607 @item half-standout
28608 Use half bright and standout mode.
28611 Use extra bright or bold mode.
28613 @item bold-standout
28614 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
28619 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
28622 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
28623 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
28624 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
28627 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
28628 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
28629 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
28630 created Emacs buffer.
28631 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
28633 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
28638 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
28641 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
28642 and output done by the program you are debugging.
28644 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
28645 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
28648 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
28649 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
28650 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
28654 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
28656 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
28657 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
28658 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
28659 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
28662 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
28663 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
28666 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
28667 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
28668 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
28669 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
28671 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
28672 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
28673 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
28674 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
28675 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
28676 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
28677 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
28678 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
28679 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
28681 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
28682 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
28683 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
28684 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
28686 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
28687 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
28688 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
28689 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
28692 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
28693 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
28697 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
28700 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
28701 update the display window to show the current file and location.
28704 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
28705 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
28706 to show the current file and location.
28709 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
28710 display window accordingly.
28713 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
28714 @code{finish} command.
28717 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
28721 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
28722 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
28723 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
28726 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
28727 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
28730 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
28731 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
28733 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
28734 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
28735 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
28736 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
28737 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
28738 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
28739 speedbar displays watch expressions.
28741 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
28742 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
28743 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
28744 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
28747 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
28748 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
28749 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
28750 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
28751 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
28752 to correspond properly with the code.
28754 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
28755 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
28759 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
28761 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
28763 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
28764 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
28765 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
28766 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
28767 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
28768 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
28770 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
28771 in the form of a reference manual.
28773 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
28774 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
28775 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
28777 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
28779 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
28780 This chapter uses the following notation:
28784 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
28787 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
28788 it may or may not be given.
28791 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28792 may repeat zero or more times.
28795 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28796 may repeat one or more times.
28799 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
28803 @heading Dependencies
28807 * GDB/MI General Design::
28808 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
28809 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
28810 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
28811 * GDB/MI Output Records::
28812 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
28813 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
28814 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
28815 * GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
28816 * GDB/MI Program Context::
28817 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
28818 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
28819 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
28820 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
28821 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
28822 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
28823 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
28824 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
28825 * GDB/MI File Commands::
28827 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
28828 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
28829 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
28831 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
28832 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
28833 * GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands::
28834 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
28837 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28838 @node GDB/MI General Design
28839 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
28840 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
28842 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
28843 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
28844 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
28845 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
28846 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
28847 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
28848 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
28849 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
28850 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
28851 a command and reported as part of that command response.
28853 The important examples of notifications are:
28857 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
28858 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
28859 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
28860 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
28861 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
28862 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
28863 command itself was successfully executed.
28866 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
28867 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
28868 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
28869 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
28870 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
28871 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
28874 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
28875 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
28876 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
28877 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
28878 orthogonal frontend design.
28882 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
28883 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
28884 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
28885 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
28886 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
28887 the user interface.
28891 * Context management::
28892 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
28896 @node Context management
28897 @subsection Context management
28899 @subsubsection Threads and Frames
28901 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
28902 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
28903 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
28904 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
28905 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
28906 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
28907 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
28908 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
28909 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
28911 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
28912 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
28913 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
28914 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
28915 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
28916 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
28917 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
28918 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
28919 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
28920 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
28921 for thread and frame to operate on.
28923 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
28924 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
28925 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
28926 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
28927 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
28928 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
28929 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
28930 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
28931 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
28932 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
28934 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
28935 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
28936 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
28937 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
28938 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
28939 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
28940 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
28941 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
28942 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
28943 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
28944 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
28945 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
28946 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
28947 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
28948 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
28949 @samp{--frame} options.
28951 @subsubsection Language
28953 The execution of several commands depends on which language is selected.
28954 By default, the current language (@pxref{show language}) is used.
28955 But for commands known to be language-sensitive, it is recommended
28956 to use the @samp{--language} option. This option takes one argument,
28957 which is the name of the language to use while executing the command.
28961 -data-evaluate-expression --language c "sizeof (void*)"
28966 The valid language names are the same names accepted by the
28967 @samp{set language} command (@pxref{Manually}), excluding @samp{auto},
28968 @samp{local} or @samp{unknown}.
28970 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
28971 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
28973 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
28974 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
28975 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
28976 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
28977 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
28978 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
28979 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
28980 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
28981 @code{-list-target-features} command.
28983 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
28984 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
28985 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
28986 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
28987 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
28990 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
28991 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
28992 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
28993 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
28994 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
28995 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
28996 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
28997 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
28998 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
28999 @samp{--thread} option).
29001 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
29002 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
29003 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
29004 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
29006 @node Thread groups
29007 @subsection Thread groups
29008 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
29009 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
29010 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
29011 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
29012 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
29014 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
29015 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
29016 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
29017 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
29018 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
29019 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
29020 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
29023 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
29024 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
29025 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
29026 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
29027 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
29028 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
29029 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
29030 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
29031 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
29032 the members of specific thread group.
29034 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
29035 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
29036 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
29037 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
29038 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
29039 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
29040 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
29041 after attaching to that thread group.
29043 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
29044 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
29045 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
29046 such thread groups.
29048 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29049 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
29050 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
29053 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
29054 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
29057 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
29058 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
29060 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
29061 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
29063 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
29064 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
29066 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
29067 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
29068 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
29070 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
29071 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
29072 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
29074 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
29075 "any sequence of digits"
29077 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
29078 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
29080 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
29081 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
29083 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
29084 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
29086 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
29087 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
29088 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
29090 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
29091 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
29093 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
29102 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
29103 output is described below.
29106 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
29110 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
29111 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
29112 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
29113 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
29114 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
29121 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
29124 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
29127 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
29128 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
29130 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
29131 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
29132 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
29133 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
29134 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
29135 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
29137 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
29138 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
29142 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
29143 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
29145 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
29146 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
29148 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
29149 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
29151 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
29152 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
29154 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
29155 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
29157 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
29158 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
29160 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
29161 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
29163 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
29164 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
29166 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
29167 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
29169 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
29170 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
29171 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
29173 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
29174 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
29176 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
29177 @code{ @var{string} }
29179 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
29180 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
29182 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
29183 @code{@var{c-string}}
29185 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
29186 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
29188 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
29189 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
29190 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
29192 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
29193 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
29195 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
29196 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
29198 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
29199 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
29201 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
29202 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
29204 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
29207 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
29208 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
29216 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
29219 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
29220 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
29221 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
29222 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
29223 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
29224 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
29228 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29229 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
29230 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
29231 prefixed by @samp{+}.
29234 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29235 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
29236 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
29240 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29241 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
29242 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
29243 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
29246 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29247 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
29248 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
29249 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
29252 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29253 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
29254 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
29257 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29258 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
29259 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
29260 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
29263 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
29264 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
29270 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
29271 details about the various output records.
29273 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29274 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
29275 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
29277 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
29278 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
29280 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
29281 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
29282 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
29283 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
29284 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
29285 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
29287 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
29288 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
29289 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
29291 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29292 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
29293 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
29294 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
29296 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
29297 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
29299 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
29300 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
29301 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
29302 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
29305 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
29306 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
29307 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
29308 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
29312 New MI commands may be added.
29315 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
29318 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
29319 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
29321 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
29322 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
29324 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
29325 @c resolve inconsistencies.
29328 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
29329 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
29330 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
29331 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
29332 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
29334 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
29337 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
29338 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
29339 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
29340 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
29341 @cindex mailing lists
29343 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29344 @node GDB/MI Output Records
29345 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
29348 * GDB/MI Result Records::
29349 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
29350 * GDB/MI Async Records::
29351 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
29352 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
29353 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
29354 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
29357 @node GDB/MI Result Records
29358 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
29360 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29361 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
29362 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
29363 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
29367 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
29368 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
29373 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
29374 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
29375 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
29376 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
29377 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
29378 which threads are resumed.
29382 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
29384 @item "^error" "," "msg=" @var{c-string} [ "," "code=" @var{c-string} ]
29386 The operation failed. The @code{msg=@var{c-string}} variable contains
29387 the corresponding error message.
29389 If present, the @code{code=@var{c-string}} variable provides an error
29390 code on which consumers can rely on to detect the corresponding
29391 error condition. At present, only one error code is defined:
29394 @item "undefined-command"
29395 Indicates that the command causing the error does not exist.
29400 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
29404 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
29405 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
29407 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
29408 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29409 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
29410 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
29411 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
29413 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
29414 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
29415 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
29416 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
29417 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
29420 @item "~" @var{string-output}
29421 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
29422 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
29424 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
29425 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
29426 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
29427 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
29429 @item "&" @var{string-output}
29430 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
29434 @node GDB/MI Async Records
29435 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
29437 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29438 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
29439 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
29440 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
29441 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
29442 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
29444 The following is the list of possible async records:
29448 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
29449 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
29450 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
29451 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
29452 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
29453 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
29454 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
29455 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
29456 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
29457 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
29459 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
29460 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
29464 @item breakpoint-hit
29465 A breakpoint was reached.
29466 @item watchpoint-trigger
29467 A watchpoint was triggered.
29468 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
29469 A read watchpoint was triggered.
29470 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
29471 An access watchpoint was triggered.
29472 @item function-finished
29473 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29474 @item location-reached
29475 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29476 @item watchpoint-scope
29477 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
29478 @item end-stepping-range
29479 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
29480 similar CLI command was accomplished.
29481 @item exited-signalled
29482 The inferior exited because of a signal.
29484 The inferior exited.
29485 @item exited-normally
29486 The inferior exited normally.
29487 @item signal-received
29488 A signal was received by the inferior.
29490 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
29491 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
29492 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
29493 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
29495 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
29496 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29498 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
29499 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29500 @item syscall-entry
29501 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
29502 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29503 @item syscall-entry
29504 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
29505 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29507 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
29508 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29511 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
29512 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
29513 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
29514 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
29515 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
29516 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
29517 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
29518 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
29519 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
29520 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
29521 if such information is not available.
29523 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
29524 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
29525 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
29526 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
29527 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
29528 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
29529 cannot be used in any way.
29531 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
29532 A thread group became associated with a running program,
29533 either because the program was just started or the thread group
29534 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
29535 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
29536 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
29538 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
29539 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
29540 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
29541 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
29542 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
29543 only when the inferior exited with some code.
29545 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29546 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29547 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
29548 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
29549 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
29551 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
29552 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
29553 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
29554 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
29555 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
29556 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
29557 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
29559 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
29560 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
29563 @item =library-loaded,...
29564 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
29565 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
29566 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
29567 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
29568 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
29569 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
29570 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
29571 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
29572 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
29573 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
29574 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
29575 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
29578 @item =library-unloaded,...
29579 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
29580 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
29581 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
29582 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
29583 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
29584 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
29587 @item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
29588 @itemx =traceframe-changed,end
29589 Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
29590 @var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
29591 frame is @var{tpnum}.
29593 @item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
29594 Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
29595 initial value @var{initial}.
29597 @item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
29598 @itemx =tsv-deleted
29599 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
29600 trace state variables are deleted.
29602 @item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
29603 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
29604 the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
29605 trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
29606 value of trace state variable is known.
29608 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
29609 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
29610 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
29611 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
29612 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
29615 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
29616 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
29617 @var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
29619 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
29620 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
29622 @item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
29623 @itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
29624 Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
29625 inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
29626 group corresponding to the affected inferior.
29628 @item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
29629 Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
29630 changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
29631 the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
29632 For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
29633 is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
29635 @item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
29636 Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
29637 written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
29638 thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
29639 @code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
29643 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
29644 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
29646 When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
29647 tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
29652 The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
29653 of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
29657 The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
29658 @samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
29661 If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
29662 indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
29665 This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
29666 the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
29667 meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
29670 This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
29671 value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
29672 Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
29675 The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
29676 giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
29677 breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
29678 multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
29679 be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
29682 If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
29683 If not known, this field is not present.
29686 The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
29687 If not known, this field is not present.
29690 The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
29691 known. If not known, this field is not present.
29694 The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
29695 If not known, this field is not present.
29698 If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
29699 provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
29703 If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
29704 text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
29707 Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
29711 If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
29712 thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
29715 If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
29716 field will hold the task identifier.
29719 If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
29722 The ignore count of the breakpoint.
29725 The enable count of the breakpoint.
29727 @item traceframe-usage
29730 @item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
29731 For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
29734 For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
29737 A tracepoint's pass count.
29739 @item original-location
29740 The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
29741 This field is optional.
29744 The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
29747 This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
29748 meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
29752 Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
29756 For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
29757 (@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
29760 -> -break-insert main
29761 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29762 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29763 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29768 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
29769 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
29771 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
29772 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
29777 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
29778 zero. This field is always present.
29781 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
29782 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
29785 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
29788 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
29789 address. This field may be absent.
29792 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
29796 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
29797 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
29801 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
29802 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
29804 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
29805 uses a tuple with the following fields:
29809 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
29813 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
29816 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
29817 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
29818 frontend. This field is optional.
29821 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
29822 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
29825 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
29826 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
29829 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
29830 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
29832 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
29833 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
29834 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
29835 the @code{exception-name} field.
29837 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29838 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
29839 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
29840 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
29842 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
29843 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
29844 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
29845 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
29847 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
29848 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
29850 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
29852 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
29853 information of the breakpoint.
29856 -> -break-insert main
29857 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29858 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29859 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29864 @subheading Program Execution
29866 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
29867 reason that execution stopped.
29873 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
29874 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
29875 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
29876 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
29881 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29885 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
29887 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
29895 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
29896 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
29897 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
29898 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
29899 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
29900 fails to exit in reasonable time.
29902 @subheading A Bad Command
29904 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
29908 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
29913 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29914 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
29915 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
29917 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
29918 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
29920 @subheading Motivation
29922 The motivation for this collection of commands.
29924 @subheading Introduction
29926 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
29928 @subheading Commands
29930 For each command in the block, the following is described:
29932 @subsubheading Synopsis
29935 -command @var{args}@dots{}
29938 @subsubheading Result
29940 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29942 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
29944 @subsubheading Example
29946 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
29947 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
29950 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29951 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
29952 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
29954 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
29955 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
29956 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
29959 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
29960 @findex -break-after
29962 @subsubheading Synopsis
29965 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
29968 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
29969 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
29970 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
29971 @samp{-break-list} command below.
29973 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29975 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
29977 @subsubheading Example
29982 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29983 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29984 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29992 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29993 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29994 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29995 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29996 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29997 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29998 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29999 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30000 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30001 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
30006 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
30007 @findex -break-catch
30010 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
30011 @findex -break-commands
30013 @subsubheading Synopsis
30016 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
30019 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
30020 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
30021 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
30022 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
30023 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
30024 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
30026 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30028 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
30030 @subsubheading Example
30035 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30036 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
30037 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
30040 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
30045 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
30046 @findex -break-condition
30048 @subsubheading Synopsis
30051 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
30054 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
30055 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
30056 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
30059 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30061 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
30063 @subsubheading Example
30067 -break-condition 1 1
30071 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30072 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30073 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30074 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30075 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30076 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30077 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30078 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30079 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30080 line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
30084 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
30085 @findex -break-delete
30087 @subsubheading Synopsis
30090 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
30093 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
30094 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
30096 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30098 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
30100 @subsubheading Example
30108 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
30109 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30110 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30111 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30112 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30113 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30114 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30119 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
30120 @findex -break-disable
30122 @subsubheading Synopsis
30125 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
30128 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
30129 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
30131 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30133 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
30135 @subsubheading Example
30143 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30144 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30145 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30146 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30147 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30148 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30149 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30150 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
30151 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30152 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30156 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
30157 @findex -break-enable
30159 @subsubheading Synopsis
30162 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
30165 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
30167 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30169 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
30171 @subsubheading Example
30179 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30180 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30181 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30182 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30183 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30184 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30185 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30186 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30187 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30188 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30192 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
30193 @findex -break-info
30195 @subsubheading Synopsis
30198 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
30202 Get information about a single breakpoint.
30204 The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
30205 Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
30208 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30210 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
30212 @subsubheading Example
30215 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
30216 @findex -break-insert
30218 @subsubheading Synopsis
30221 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
30222 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
30223 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
30227 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
30234 @item filename:linenum
30235 @item filename:function
30239 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
30243 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
30245 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
30247 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
30248 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
30249 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
30250 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
30253 Create a disabled breakpoint.
30255 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
30256 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
30257 @item -c @var{condition}
30258 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30259 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
30260 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
30261 @item -p @var{thread-id}
30262 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
30265 @subsubheading Result
30267 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
30268 resulting breakpoint.
30270 Note: this format is open to change.
30271 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
30273 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30275 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
30276 @samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
30278 @subsubheading Example
30283 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
30284 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
30287 -break-insert -t foo
30288 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
30289 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30293 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30294 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30295 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30296 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30297 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30298 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30299 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30300 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30301 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
30302 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
30304 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30305 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
30306 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30309 @c -break-insert -r foo.*
30310 @c ~int foo(int, int);
30311 @c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
30312 @c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30317 @subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
30318 @findex -dprintf-insert
30320 @subsubheading Synopsis
30323 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
30324 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
30325 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
30330 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
30333 @item @var{function}
30336 @c @item @var{linenum}
30337 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
30338 @item @var{filename}:function
30339 @item *@var{address}
30342 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
30346 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
30348 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
30349 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
30350 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
30351 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
30354 Create a disabled breakpoint.
30355 @item -c @var{condition}
30356 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30357 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
30358 Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
30359 to @var{ignore-count}.
30360 @item -p @var{thread-id}
30361 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
30364 @subsubheading Result
30366 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
30367 resulting breakpoint.
30369 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
30371 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30373 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
30375 @subsubheading Example
30379 4-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
30380 4^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30381 addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
30382 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
30383 times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
30384 original-location="foo"@}
30386 5-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
30387 5^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30388 addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
30389 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
30390 times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
30391 original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
30395 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
30396 @findex -break-list
30398 @subsubheading Synopsis
30404 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
30408 number of the breakpoint
30410 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
30412 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
30415 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
30417 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
30419 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
30421 @item Thread-groups
30422 list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
30424 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
30427 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
30428 @code{body} field is an empty list.
30430 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30432 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
30434 @subsubheading Example
30439 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30440 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30441 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30442 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30443 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30444 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30445 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30446 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30447 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
30449 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30450 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30451 line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30455 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
30460 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
30461 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30462 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30463 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30464 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30465 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30466 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30471 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
30472 @findex -break-passcount
30474 @subsubheading Synopsis
30477 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
30480 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
30481 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
30482 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
30483 command @samp{passcount}.
30485 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
30486 @findex -break-watch
30488 @subsubheading Synopsis
30491 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
30494 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
30495 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
30496 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
30497 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
30498 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
30499 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
30500 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
30501 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
30503 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
30504 breakpoints inserted.
30506 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30508 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
30511 @subsubheading Example
30513 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
30518 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
30523 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
30524 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
30525 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
30526 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
30530 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
30531 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
30532 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
30537 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
30542 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
30543 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30544 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30545 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30546 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30551 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
30552 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30553 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30554 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30555 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30559 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
30560 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
30566 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
30569 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30570 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30571 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30572 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30573 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30574 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30575 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30576 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30577 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30578 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30579 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30581 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30582 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30587 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
30588 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30589 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30590 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30591 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30594 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30595 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30596 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30597 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30598 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30599 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30600 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30601 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30602 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30603 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30604 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30606 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30607 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
30611 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
30612 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30613 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30614 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30615 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30618 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30619 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30620 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30621 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30622 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30623 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30624 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30625 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30626 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30627 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30628 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
30629 thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
30634 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30635 @node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30636 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
30638 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
30642 * Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
30643 * Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
30646 @node Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30647 @subsection Shared Library @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
30649 @subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
30650 @findex -catch-load
30652 @subsubheading Synopsis
30655 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30658 Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
30659 the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30660 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
30661 in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30662 expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
30665 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30667 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
30669 @subsubheading Example
30672 -catch-load -t foo.so
30673 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30674 what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
30679 @subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
30680 @findex -catch-unload
30682 @subsubheading Synopsis
30685 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30688 Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
30689 used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30690 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
30691 created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30692 expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
30694 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30696 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
30698 @subsubheading Example
30701 -catch-unload -d bar.so
30702 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
30703 what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
30707 @node Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30708 @subsection Ada Exception @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
30710 The following @sc{gdb/mi} commands can be used to create catchpoints
30711 that stop the execution when Ada exceptions are being raised.
30713 @subheading The @code{-catch-assert} Command
30714 @findex -catch-assert
30716 @subsubheading Synopsis
30719 -catch-assert [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -t ]
30722 Add a catchpoint for failed Ada assertions.
30724 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
30727 @item -c @var{condition}
30728 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30730 Create a disabled catchpoint.
30732 Create a temporary catchpoint.
30735 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30737 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch assert}.
30739 @subsubheading Example
30743 ^done,bkptno="5",bkpt=@{number="5",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30744 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404888",what="failed Ada assertions",
30745 thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",
30746 original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_assert_failure"@}
30750 @subheading The @code{-catch-exception} Command
30751 @findex -catch-exception
30753 @subsubheading Synopsis
30756 -catch-exception [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -e @var{exception-name} ]
30760 Add a catchpoint stopping when Ada exceptions are raised.
30761 By default, the command stops the program when any Ada exception
30762 gets raised. But it is also possible, by using some of the
30763 optional parameters described below, to create more selective
30766 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
30769 @item -c @var{condition}
30770 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30772 Create a disabled catchpoint.
30773 @item -e @var{exception-name}
30774 Only stop when @var{exception-name} is raised. This option cannot
30775 be used combined with @samp{-u}.
30777 Create a temporary catchpoint.
30779 Stop only when an unhandled exception gets raised. This option
30780 cannot be used combined with @samp{-e}.
30783 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30785 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{catch exception}
30786 and @samp{catch exception unhandled}.
30788 @subsubheading Example
30791 -catch-exception -e Program_Error
30792 ^done,bkptno="4",bkpt=@{number="4",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30793 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404874",
30794 what="`Program_Error' Ada exception", thread-groups=["i1"],
30795 times="0",original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_exception"@}
30799 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30800 @node GDB/MI Program Context
30801 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
30803 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
30804 @findex -exec-arguments
30807 @subsubheading Synopsis
30810 -exec-arguments @var{args}
30813 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
30816 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30818 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
30820 @subsubheading Example
30824 -exec-arguments -v word
30831 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
30832 @findex -exec-show-arguments
30834 @subsubheading Synopsis
30837 -exec-show-arguments
30840 Print the arguments of the program.
30842 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30844 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
30846 @subsubheading Example
30851 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
30852 @findex -environment-cd
30854 @subsubheading Synopsis
30857 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
30860 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
30862 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30864 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
30866 @subsubheading Example
30870 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30876 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
30877 @findex -environment-directory
30879 @subsubheading Synopsis
30882 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30885 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
30886 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
30887 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
30888 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30890 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30891 multiple directories in a single command
30892 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30893 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30894 If blanks are needed as
30895 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30896 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30897 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30898 character must not be used
30899 in any directory name.
30900 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
30902 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30904 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
30906 @subsubheading Example
30910 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30911 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30913 -environment-directory ""
30914 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30916 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
30917 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
30919 -environment-directory -r
30920 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
30925 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
30926 @findex -environment-path
30928 @subsubheading Synopsis
30931 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30934 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
30935 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
30936 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
30937 supplied in addition to the
30938 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30940 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30941 multiple directories in a single command
30942 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30943 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30944 If blanks are needed as
30945 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30946 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30947 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30948 character must not be used
30949 in any directory name.
30950 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
30953 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30955 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
30957 @subsubheading Example
30962 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
30964 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
30965 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
30967 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
30968 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
30973 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
30974 @findex -environment-pwd
30976 @subsubheading Synopsis
30982 Show the current working directory.
30984 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30986 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
30988 @subsubheading Example
30993 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
30997 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30998 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
30999 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
31002 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
31003 @findex -thread-info
31005 @subsubheading Synopsis
31008 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
31011 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
31012 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
31013 threads. When printing information about all threads,
31014 also reports the current thread.
31016 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31018 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
31021 @subsubheading Result
31023 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
31024 defined for a given thread:
31028 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
31031 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
31034 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
31037 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
31041 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
31042 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
31043 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
31044 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
31048 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
31051 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
31056 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
31060 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
31066 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
31067 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
31071 @subsubheading Example
31076 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
31077 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
31078 args=[]@},state="running"@},
31079 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
31080 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
31081 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
31082 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
31083 state="running"@}],
31084 current-thread-id="1"
31088 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
31089 @findex -thread-list-ids
31091 @subsubheading Synopsis
31097 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
31098 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
31100 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
31101 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
31103 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31105 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
31107 @subsubheading Example
31112 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
31113 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
31118 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
31119 @findex -thread-select
31121 @subsubheading Synopsis
31124 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
31127 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
31128 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
31130 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
31131 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
31133 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31135 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
31137 @subsubheading Example
31144 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
31145 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
31149 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
31150 number-of-threads="3"
31153 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
31154 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
31155 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
31156 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
31160 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31161 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
31162 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
31164 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
31165 @findex -ada-task-info
31167 @subsubheading Synopsis
31170 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
31173 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
31174 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
31176 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31178 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
31179 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
31181 @subsubheading Result
31183 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
31184 defined for each Ada task:
31188 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
31191 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
31194 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
31197 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
31199 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
31200 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
31201 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
31204 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
31205 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
31208 The base priority of the task.
31211 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
31212 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
31215 The name of the task.
31219 @subsubheading Example
31223 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
31224 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
31225 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
31226 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
31227 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
31228 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
31229 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
31230 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
31231 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
31232 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
31233 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
31237 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31238 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
31239 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
31241 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
31242 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
31243 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
31246 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
31247 @findex -exec-continue
31249 @subsubheading Synopsis
31252 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
31255 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
31256 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
31257 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
31258 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
31261 breakpoints or watchpoints
31263 signals or exceptions
31265 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
31267 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
31269 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
31270 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
31271 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
31272 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
31273 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
31274 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
31276 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31278 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
31280 @subsubheading Example
31287 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
31288 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
31294 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
31295 @findex -exec-finish
31297 @subsubheading Synopsis
31300 -exec-finish [--reverse]
31303 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
31304 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
31305 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
31306 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
31307 function was called.
31309 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31311 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
31313 @subsubheading Example
31315 Function returning @code{void}.
31322 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31323 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
31327 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
31328 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
31335 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
31336 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
31337 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31338 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
31343 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
31344 @findex -exec-interrupt
31346 @subsubheading Synopsis
31349 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
31352 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
31353 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
31354 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
31355 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
31356 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
31358 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
31359 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
31360 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
31361 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
31363 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
31364 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
31365 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
31366 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
31368 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31370 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
31372 @subsubheading Example
31383 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
31384 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31385 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
31390 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
31394 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
31397 @subsubheading Synopsis
31400 -exec-jump @var{location}
31403 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
31404 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
31405 different forms of @var{location}.
31407 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31409 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
31411 @subsubheading Example
31414 -exec-jump foo.c:10
31415 *running,thread-id="all"
31420 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
31423 @subsubheading Synopsis
31426 -exec-next [--reverse]
31429 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31430 of the next source line is reached.
31432 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
31433 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
31434 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
31435 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
31436 source line where the function was called.
31439 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31441 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
31443 @subsubheading Example
31449 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
31454 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
31455 @findex -exec-next-instruction
31457 @subsubheading Synopsis
31460 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
31463 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
31464 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
31465 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
31468 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
31469 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
31470 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
31471 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
31472 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
31474 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31476 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
31478 @subsubheading Example
31482 -exec-next-instruction
31486 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31487 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
31492 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
31493 @findex -exec-return
31495 @subsubheading Synopsis
31501 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
31502 Displays the new current frame.
31504 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31506 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
31508 @subsubheading Example
31512 200-break-insert callee4
31513 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
31514 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
31519 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
31520 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
31521 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31522 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
31528 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
31529 args=[@{name="strarg",
31530 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
31531 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31532 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
31537 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
31540 @subsubheading Synopsis
31543 -exec-run [ --all | --thread-group N ] [ --start ]
31546 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
31547 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
31548 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
31549 the program has exited exceptionally.
31551 When neither the @samp{--all} nor the @samp{--thread-group} option
31552 is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
31553 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
31554 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
31555 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
31557 Using the @samp{--start} option instructs the debugger to stop
31558 the execution at the start of the inferior's main subprogram,
31559 following the same behavior as the @code{start} command
31560 (@pxref{Starting}).
31562 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31564 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
31566 @subsubheading Examples
31571 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
31576 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
31577 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
31578 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
31583 Program exited normally:
31591 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
31596 Program exited exceptionally:
31604 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
31608 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
31609 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
31613 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
31614 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
31618 @c @subheading -exec-signal
31621 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
31624 @subsubheading Synopsis
31627 -exec-step [--reverse]
31630 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31631 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
31632 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
31633 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
31634 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
31635 previously executed source line.
31637 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31639 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
31641 @subsubheading Example
31643 Stepping into a function:
31649 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31650 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
31651 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
31652 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
31662 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
31667 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
31668 @findex -exec-step-instruction
31670 @subsubheading Synopsis
31673 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
31676 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
31677 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
31678 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
31679 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
31680 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
31681 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
31684 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31686 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
31688 @subsubheading Example
31692 -exec-step-instruction
31696 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31697 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31698 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31700 -exec-step-instruction
31704 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31705 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31706 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31711 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
31712 @findex -exec-until
31714 @subsubheading Synopsis
31717 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
31720 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
31721 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
31722 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
31723 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
31725 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31727 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
31729 @subsubheading Example
31733 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
31737 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31738 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
31743 @subheading -file-clear
31744 Is this going away????
31747 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31748 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
31749 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
31751 @subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
31752 @findex -enable-frame-filters
31755 -enable-frame-filters
31758 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
31759 the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
31760 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
31761 request that this functionality be enabled.
31763 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
31765 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
31766 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
31768 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
31769 @findex -stack-info-frame
31771 @subsubheading Synopsis
31777 Get info on the selected frame.
31779 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31781 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
31782 (without arguments).
31784 @subsubheading Example
31789 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31790 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31791 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
31795 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
31796 @findex -stack-info-depth
31798 @subsubheading Synopsis
31801 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
31804 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
31805 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
31807 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31809 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31811 @subsubheading Example
31813 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
31820 -stack-info-depth 4
31823 -stack-info-depth 12
31826 -stack-info-depth 11
31829 -stack-info-depth 13
31834 @anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
31835 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
31836 @findex -stack-list-arguments
31838 @subsubheading Synopsis
31841 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31842 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31845 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
31846 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
31847 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
31848 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
31849 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
31850 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
31851 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
31852 which case only existing frames will be returned.
31854 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31855 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31856 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31857 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31858 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31859 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31861 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, arguments that
31862 are not available are not listed. Partially available arguments
31863 are still displayed, however.
31865 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
31866 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31868 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31870 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
31871 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
31872 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
31874 @subsubheading Example
31881 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
31882 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31883 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
31884 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31885 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31886 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
31887 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
31888 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31889 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
31890 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
31891 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31892 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
31893 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
31894 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31895 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
31897 -stack-list-arguments 0
31900 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31901 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
31902 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
31903 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
31904 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31906 -stack-list-arguments 1
31909 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31911 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31912 frame=@{level="2",args=[
31913 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31914 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31915 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
31916 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31917 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
31918 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
31919 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31921 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
31922 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
31924 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
31925 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
31926 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31927 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
31931 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
31934 @anchor{-stack-list-frames}
31935 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
31936 @findex -stack-list-frames
31938 @subsubheading Synopsis
31941 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31944 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
31949 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
31951 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
31955 File name of the source file where the function lives.
31956 @item @var{fullname}
31957 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
31959 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
31961 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
31962 if the frame's function is not known.
31965 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
31966 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
31967 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
31968 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
31969 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
31970 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
31971 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
31972 returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31973 Python frame filters will not be executed.
31975 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31977 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
31979 @subsubheading Example
31981 Full stack backtrace:
31987 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
31988 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
31989 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31990 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31991 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31992 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31993 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31994 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31995 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31996 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31997 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31998 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31999 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32000 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32001 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32002 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32003 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32004 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32005 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32006 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32007 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32008 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32009 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
32010 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
32014 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
32018 -stack-list-frames 3 5
32020 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32021 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32022 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32023 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
32024 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32025 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
32029 Show a single frame:
32033 -stack-list-frames 3 3
32035 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
32036 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
32041 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
32042 @findex -stack-list-locals
32043 @anchor{-stack-list-locals}
32045 @subsubheading Synopsis
32048 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
32051 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
32052 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
32053 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
32054 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
32055 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
32056 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
32057 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
32058 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
32059 more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
32060 Python frame filters will not be executed.
32062 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
32063 that are not available are not listed. Partially available local
32064 variables are still displayed, however.
32066 This command is deprecated in favor of the
32067 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
32069 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32071 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
32073 @subsubheading Example
32077 -stack-list-locals 0
32078 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
32080 -stack-list-locals --all-values
32081 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
32082 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
32083 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
32084 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
32085 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
32089 @anchor{-stack-list-variables}
32090 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
32091 @findex -stack-list-variables
32093 @subsubheading Synopsis
32096 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
32099 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
32100 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
32101 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
32102 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
32103 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
32104 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
32105 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
32107 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
32108 and arguments that are not available are not listed. Partially
32109 available arguments and local variables are still displayed, however.
32111 @subsubheading Example
32115 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
32116 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
32121 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
32122 @findex -stack-select-frame
32124 @subsubheading Synopsis
32127 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
32130 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
32133 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
32134 option to every command.
32136 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32138 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
32139 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
32141 @subsubheading Example
32145 -stack-select-frame 2
32150 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32151 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
32152 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
32156 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
32158 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
32159 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
32160 used by @code{Insight}.
32162 The two main reasons for that are:
32166 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
32169 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
32173 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
32174 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
32175 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
32176 hints about their use.
32178 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
32179 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
32180 least, the following operations:
32183 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
32184 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
32185 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
32186 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
32191 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
32193 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
32195 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
32196 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
32197 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
32198 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
32199 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
32200 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
32201 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
32202 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
32203 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
32204 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
32205 object, or to change display format.
32207 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
32208 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
32209 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
32210 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
32211 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
32212 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
32213 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
32214 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
32215 child will be created.
32217 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
32218 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
32219 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
32220 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
32221 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
32223 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
32224 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
32225 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
32226 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
32227 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
32228 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
32229 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
32230 variables that frontend has created.
32232 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
32233 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
32234 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
32235 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
32236 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
32237 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
32238 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
32239 implicitly updated.
32241 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
32242 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
32243 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
32244 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
32245 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
32246 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
32247 frame. Consider this example:
32252 struct work_state state;
32259 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
32260 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
32261 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
32262 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
32263 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
32265 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
32266 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
32267 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
32268 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
32269 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
32270 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
32272 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
32273 access this functionality:
32275 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
32276 @item @strong{Operation}
32277 @tab @strong{Description}
32279 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
32280 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
32281 @item @code{-var-create}
32282 @tab create a variable object
32283 @item @code{-var-delete}
32284 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
32285 @item @code{-var-set-format}
32286 @tab set the display format of this variable
32287 @item @code{-var-show-format}
32288 @tab show the display format of this variable
32289 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
32290 @tab tells how many children this object has
32291 @item @code{-var-list-children}
32292 @tab return a list of the object's children
32293 @item @code{-var-info-type}
32294 @tab show the type of this variable object
32295 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
32296 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
32297 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
32298 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
32299 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
32300 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
32301 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
32302 @tab get the value of this variable
32303 @item @code{-var-assign}
32304 @tab set the value of this variable
32305 @item @code{-var-update}
32306 @tab update the variable and its children
32307 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
32308 @tab set frozeness attribute
32309 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
32310 @tab set range of children to display on update
32313 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
32314 how it can be used.
32316 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
32318 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
32319 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
32322 -enable-pretty-printing
32325 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
32326 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
32327 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
32328 request that this functionality be enabled.
32330 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
32332 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
32333 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
32335 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
32336 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
32338 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
32339 @findex -var-create
32341 @subsubheading Synopsis
32344 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
32345 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
32348 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
32349 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
32352 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
32353 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
32354 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
32355 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
32356 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
32358 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
32359 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
32360 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
32361 object must be created.
32363 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
32364 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
32368 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
32371 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
32374 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
32377 @cindex dynamic varobj
32378 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
32379 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
32380 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
32381 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
32382 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
32383 compatibility for existing clients.
32385 @subsubheading Result
32387 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
32392 The name of the varobj.
32395 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
32396 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
32397 @samp{has_more} attribute.
32400 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
32401 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
32402 will not be interesting.
32405 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
32406 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
32407 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
32408 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32409 @emph{declared} one.
32412 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
32413 thread's identifier.
32416 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
32417 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
32420 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32421 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32422 then this attribute will not be present.
32425 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32426 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32427 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32430 Typical output will look like this:
32433 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
32434 has_more="@var{has_more}"
32438 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
32439 @findex -var-delete
32441 @subsubheading Synopsis
32444 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
32447 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
32448 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
32450 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
32453 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
32454 @findex -var-set-format
32456 @subsubheading Synopsis
32459 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
32462 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
32465 @anchor{-var-set-format}
32466 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
32469 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
32470 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
32473 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
32474 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
32475 for pointers, etc.).
32477 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
32478 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
32480 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
32481 @findex -var-show-format
32483 @subsubheading Synopsis
32486 -var-show-format @var{name}
32489 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
32492 @var{format} @expansion{}
32497 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
32498 @findex -var-info-num-children
32500 @subsubheading Synopsis
32503 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
32506 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
32512 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
32513 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
32517 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
32518 @findex -var-list-children
32520 @subsubheading Synopsis
32523 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
32525 @anchor{-var-list-children}
32527 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
32528 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
32529 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
32530 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
32531 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
32532 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
32533 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
32536 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
32537 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
32538 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
32539 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
32542 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
32543 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
32544 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
32545 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
32546 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
32547 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
32548 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
32549 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
32552 For each child the following results are returned:
32557 Name of the variable object created for this child.
32560 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
32561 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
32563 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
32564 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
32566 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
32567 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
32568 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
32569 type and value are not present.
32571 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
32572 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
32573 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
32576 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
32580 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
32581 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
32582 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32583 @emph{declared} one.
32586 If values were requested, this is the value.
32589 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
32590 Otherwise this result is not present.
32593 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
32596 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32597 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32598 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32601 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32602 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32603 then this attribute will not be present.
32607 The result may have its own attributes:
32611 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32612 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32613 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32616 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
32617 remaining after the end of the selected range.
32620 @subsubheading Example
32624 -var-list-children n
32625 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32626 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32628 -var-list-children --all-values n
32629 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32630 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32634 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
32635 @findex -var-info-type
32637 @subsubheading Synopsis
32640 -var-info-type @var{name}
32643 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
32644 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
32648 type=@var{typename}
32652 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
32653 @findex -var-info-expression
32655 @subsubheading Synopsis
32658 -var-info-expression @var{name}
32661 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
32662 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
32663 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
32665 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
32666 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
32669 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
32670 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
32674 Here, the value of @code{lang} is the language name, which can be
32675 found in @ref{Supported Languages}.
32677 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
32678 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
32681 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
32682 @findex -var-info-path-expression
32684 @subsubheading Synopsis
32687 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
32690 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
32691 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
32692 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
32693 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
32694 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
32695 watchpoint from a variable object.
32697 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
32698 and will give an error when invoked on one.
32700 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
32701 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
32702 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
32703 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
32704 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
32706 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
32707 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
32710 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
32711 @findex -var-show-attributes
32713 @subsubheading Synopsis
32716 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
32719 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
32722 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
32726 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
32728 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
32729 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
32731 @subsubheading Synopsis
32734 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
32737 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
32738 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
32739 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
32740 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
32741 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
32742 the current display format will be used. The current display format
32743 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
32749 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
32750 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
32752 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
32753 @findex -var-assign
32755 @subsubheading Synopsis
32758 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
32761 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
32762 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
32763 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
32764 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
32766 @subsubheading Example
32774 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
32778 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
32779 @findex -var-update
32781 @subsubheading Synopsis
32784 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
32787 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
32788 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
32789 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
32790 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
32791 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
32792 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
32793 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
32794 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
32795 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
32796 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
32797 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
32798 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
32799 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
32801 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
32802 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
32805 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
32806 only the selected range of children will be reported.
32808 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
32811 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
32815 The name of the varobj.
32818 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
32819 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
32822 @anchor{-var-update}
32823 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
32827 The variable object's current value is valid.
32830 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
32831 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
32835 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
32836 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
32837 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
32838 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
32842 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
32843 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
32846 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
32847 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
32850 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
32851 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
32852 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
32853 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
32857 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
32860 @item new_num_children
32861 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
32862 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
32864 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
32865 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
32866 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
32867 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
32868 children which may be available.
32870 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
32871 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
32872 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
32873 only happen at the end of the update range).
32876 The display hint, if any.
32879 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
32880 available outside the varobj's update range.
32883 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32884 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32885 then this attribute will not be present.
32888 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
32889 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
32890 be listed in this attribute.
32893 @subsubheading Example
32900 -var-update --all-values var1
32901 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
32902 type_changed="false"@}]
32906 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
32907 @findex -var-set-frozen
32908 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
32910 @subsubheading Synopsis
32913 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
32916 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
32917 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
32918 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
32919 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
32920 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
32921 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
32922 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
32923 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
32924 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
32925 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
32926 @code{-var-update} does.
32928 @subsubheading Example
32932 -var-set-frozen V 1
32937 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
32938 @findex -var-set-update-range
32939 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
32941 @subsubheading Synopsis
32944 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
32947 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
32948 @code{-var-update}.
32950 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
32951 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
32952 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
32953 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
32955 @subsubheading Example
32959 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
32963 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
32964 @findex -var-set-visualizer
32965 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
32967 @subsubheading Synopsis
32970 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
32973 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
32975 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
32976 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
32978 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
32979 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
32980 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
32981 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
32982 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
32983 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
32984 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
32986 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
32987 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
32988 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
32989 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
32991 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
32992 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
32993 can be used to check this.
32995 @subsubheading Example
32997 Resetting the visualizer:
33001 -var-set-visualizer V None
33005 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
33009 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
33013 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
33014 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
33018 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
33022 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33023 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
33024 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
33026 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
33027 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
33028 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
33029 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
33031 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
33032 @c @subheading -data-assign
33033 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
33034 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
33036 @c @subsubheading Example
33039 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
33040 @findex -data-disassemble
33042 @subsubheading Synopsis
33046 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
33047 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
33055 @item @var{start-addr}
33056 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
33057 @item @var{end-addr}
33059 @item @var{filename}
33060 is the name of the file to disassemble
33061 @item @var{linenum}
33062 is the line number to disassemble around
33064 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
33065 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
33066 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
33067 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
33068 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
33069 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
33070 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
33073 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
33074 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
33075 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
33078 @subsubheading Result
33080 The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
33081 @samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
33082 used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
33084 For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
33089 The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
33092 The name of the function this instruction is within.
33095 The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
33098 The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
33101 This field is only present for mode 2. This contains the raw opcode
33102 bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
33106 For modes 1 and 3 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
33107 @samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
33111 The line number within @samp{file}.
33114 The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
33115 file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
33119 Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
33120 using the source file search path
33121 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
33122 and after resolving all the symbolic links.
33124 If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
33125 present in the debug information.
33127 @item line_asm_insn
33128 This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
33129 @samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
33130 @code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
33131 @samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
33136 Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
33137 manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
33140 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33142 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
33144 @subsubheading Example
33146 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
33150 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
33153 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
33154 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33155 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33156 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
33157 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
33158 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
33159 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
33160 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
33161 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
33162 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
33166 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
33170 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
33172 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
33173 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
33174 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
33175 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33176 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33177 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
33179 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
33180 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
33184 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
33188 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
33190 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
33191 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
33192 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
33193 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33194 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33195 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
33199 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
33203 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
33205 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
33206 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33207 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33208 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
33209 func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
33210 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
33211 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33212 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
33213 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
33214 func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
33215 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
33216 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
33221 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
33222 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
33224 @subsubheading Synopsis
33227 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
33230 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
33231 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
33232 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
33234 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33236 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
33237 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
33238 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
33240 @subsubheading Example
33242 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
33243 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
33244 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
33248 211-data-evaluate-expression A
33251 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
33252 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
33254 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
33257 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
33263 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
33264 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
33266 @subsubheading Synopsis
33269 -data-list-changed-registers
33272 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
33274 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33276 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
33277 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
33279 @subsubheading Example
33281 On a PPC MBX board:
33289 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
33290 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
33293 -data-list-changed-registers
33294 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
33295 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
33296 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
33301 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
33302 @findex -data-list-register-names
33304 @subsubheading Synopsis
33307 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
33310 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
33311 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
33312 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
33313 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
33314 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
33315 include empty register names.
33317 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33319 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
33320 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
33321 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
33323 @subsubheading Example
33325 For the PPC MBX board:
33328 -data-list-register-names
33329 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
33330 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
33331 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
33332 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
33333 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
33334 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
33335 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
33337 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
33338 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
33342 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
33343 @findex -data-list-register-values
33345 @subsubheading Synopsis
33348 -data-list-register-values
33349 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
33352 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
33353 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
33354 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
33355 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be
33356 returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option indicates that only
33357 the available registers are to be returned.
33359 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
33376 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33378 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
33379 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
33381 @subsubheading Example
33383 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
33384 don't appear in the actual output):
33388 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
33389 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
33390 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
33392 -data-list-register-values x
33393 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
33394 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
33395 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
33396 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
33397 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
33398 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
33399 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
33400 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
33401 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
33402 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
33403 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
33404 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
33405 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
33406 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
33407 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
33408 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
33409 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
33410 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
33411 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
33412 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
33413 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
33414 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
33415 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
33416 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
33417 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
33418 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
33419 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
33420 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
33421 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
33422 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
33423 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
33424 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
33425 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
33426 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
33427 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
33428 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
33433 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
33434 @findex -data-read-memory
33436 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
33438 @subsubheading Synopsis
33441 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
33442 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
33443 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
33450 @item @var{address}
33451 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33452 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33453 quoted using the C convention.
33455 @item @var{word-format}
33456 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
33457 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
33460 @item @var{word-size}
33461 The size of each memory word in bytes.
33463 @item @var{nr-rows}
33464 The number of rows in the output table.
33466 @item @var{nr-cols}
33467 The number of columns in the output table.
33470 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
33471 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
33472 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
33473 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
33475 @item @var{byte-offset}
33476 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
33479 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
33480 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
33481 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
33482 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
33483 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
33484 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
33485 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
33488 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
33489 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
33492 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33494 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
33495 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
33497 @subsubheading Example
33499 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
33500 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
33501 word. Display each word in hex.
33505 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
33506 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
33507 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
33508 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
33509 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
33510 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
33511 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
33515 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
33516 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
33520 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
33521 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
33522 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
33523 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
33524 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
33528 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
33529 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
33530 used as the non-printable character.
33534 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
33535 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
33536 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
33537 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
33538 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33539 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33540 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33541 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33542 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
33543 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
33544 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
33545 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
33549 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
33550 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
33552 @subsubheading Synopsis
33555 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
33556 @var{address} @var{count}
33563 @item @var{address}
33564 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33565 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33566 quoted using the C convention.
33569 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
33571 @item @var{byte-offset}
33572 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
33573 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
33574 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
33575 perform address arithmetics itself.
33579 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
33580 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
33581 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
33582 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
33583 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
33584 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
33586 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
33587 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
33588 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
33589 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
33590 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
33591 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
33592 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
33593 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
33595 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
33596 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
33597 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
33598 and has the following fields:
33602 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33605 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33608 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
33609 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
33612 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
33618 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33620 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
33622 @subsubheading Example
33626 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
33627 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
33629 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
33634 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
33635 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
33637 @subsubheading Synopsis
33640 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
33641 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
33648 @item @var{address}
33649 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33650 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33651 quoted using the C convention.
33653 @item @var{contents}
33654 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
33657 Optional argument indicating the number of bytes to be written. If @var{count}
33658 is greater than @var{contents}' length, @value{GDBN} will repeatedly
33659 write @var{contents} until it fills @var{count} bytes.
33663 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33665 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33667 @subsubheading Example
33671 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
33678 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
33683 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33684 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
33685 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
33687 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
33688 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
33690 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
33691 @findex -trace-find
33693 @subsubheading Synopsis
33696 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
33699 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
33700 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
33701 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
33706 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
33709 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
33712 @item tracepoint-number
33713 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
33714 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
33717 An address is required as parameter. Finds
33718 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
33721 @item pc-inside-range
33722 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
33723 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
33724 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33726 @item pc-outside-range
33727 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
33728 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
33729 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33732 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
33733 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
33734 the specified location.
33738 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
33739 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
33743 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
33744 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
33747 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
33748 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33751 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
33752 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33755 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
33756 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
33757 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
33761 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33763 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
33765 @subheading -trace-define-variable
33766 @findex -trace-define-variable
33768 @subsubheading Synopsis
33771 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
33774 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
33775 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
33776 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
33777 with the @samp{$} character.
33779 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33781 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
33783 @subheading The @code{-trace-frame-collected} Command
33784 @findex -trace-frame-collected
33786 @subsubheading Synopsis
33789 -trace-frame-collected
33790 [--var-print-values @var{var_pval}]
33791 [--comp-print-values @var{comp_pval}]
33792 [--registers-format @var{regformat}]
33793 [--memory-contents]
33796 This command returns the set of collected objects, register names,
33797 trace state variable names, memory ranges and computed expressions
33798 that have been collected at a particular trace frame. The optional
33799 parameters to the command affect the output format in different ways.
33800 See the output description table below for more details.
33802 The reported names can be used in the normal manner to create
33803 varobjs and inspect the objects themselves. The items returned by
33804 this command are categorized so that it is clear which is a variable,
33805 which is a register, which is a trace state variable, which is a
33806 memory range and which is a computed expression.
33808 For instance, if the actions were
33810 collect myVar, myArray[myIndex], myObj.field, myPtr->field, myCount + 2
33811 collect *(int*)0xaf02bef0@@40
33815 the object collected in its entirety would be @code{myVar}. The
33816 object @code{myArray} would be partially collected, because only the
33817 element at index @code{myIndex} would be collected. The remaining
33818 objects would be computed expressions.
33820 An example output would be:
33824 -trace-frame-collected
33826 explicit-variables=[@{name="myVar",value="1"@}],
33827 computed-expressions=[@{name="myArray[myIndex]",value="0"@},
33828 @{name="myObj.field",value="0"@},
33829 @{name="myPtr->field",value="1"@},
33830 @{name="myCount + 2",value="3"@},
33831 @{name="$tvar1 + 1",value="43970027"@}],
33832 registers=[@{number="0",value="0x7fe2c6e79ec8"@},
33833 @{number="1",value="0x0"@},
33834 @{number="2",value="0x4"@},
33836 @{number="125",value="0x0"@}],
33837 tvars=[@{name="$tvar1",current="43970026"@}],
33838 memory=[@{address="0x0000000000602264",length="4"@},
33839 @{address="0x0000000000615bc0",length="4"@}]
33846 @item explicit-variables
33847 The set of objects that have been collected in their entirety (as
33848 opposed to collecting just a few elements of an array or a few struct
33849 members). For each object, its name and value are printed.
33850 The @code{--var-print-values} option affects how or whether the value
33851 field is output. If @var{var_pval} is 0, then print only the names;
33852 if it is 1, print also their values; and if it is 2, print the name,
33853 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for
33854 arrays, structures and unions.
33856 @item computed-expressions
33857 The set of computed expressions that have been collected at the
33858 current trace frame. The @code{--comp-print-values} option affects
33859 this set like the @code{--var-print-values} option affects the
33860 @code{explicit-variables} set. See above.
33863 The registers that have been collected at the current trace frame.
33864 For each register collected, the name and current value are returned.
33865 The value is formatted according to the @code{--registers-format}
33866 option. See the @command{-data-list-register-values} command for a
33867 list of the allowed formats. The default is @samp{x}.
33870 The trace state variables that have been collected at the current
33871 trace frame. For each trace state variable collected, the name and
33872 current value are returned.
33875 The set of memory ranges that have been collected at the current trace
33876 frame. Its content is a list of tuples. Each tuple represents a
33877 collected memory range and has the following fields:
33881 The start address of the memory range, as hexadecimal literal.
33884 The length of the memory range, as decimal literal.
33887 The contents of the memory block, in hex. This field is only present
33888 if the @code{--memory-contents} option is specified.
33894 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33896 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33898 @subsubheading Example
33900 @subheading -trace-list-variables
33901 @findex -trace-list-variables
33903 @subsubheading Synopsis
33906 -trace-list-variables
33909 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
33910 table has the following fields:
33914 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
33917 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
33918 field is always present.
33921 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
33922 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
33923 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
33928 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33930 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
33932 @subsubheading Example
33936 -trace-list-variables
33937 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
33938 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
33939 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
33940 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
33941 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
33942 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
33946 @subheading -trace-save
33947 @findex -trace-save
33949 @subsubheading Synopsis
33952 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
33955 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
33956 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
33957 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
33958 to perform the save.
33960 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33962 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
33965 @subheading -trace-start
33966 @findex -trace-start
33968 @subsubheading Synopsis
33974 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
33977 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33979 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
33981 @subheading -trace-status
33982 @findex -trace-status
33984 @subsubheading Synopsis
33990 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
33991 the following fields:
33996 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
33997 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
33998 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
33999 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
34000 started. This field is always present.
34003 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
34004 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
34005 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
34008 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
34009 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
34010 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
34011 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
34012 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
34013 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
34014 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
34015 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
34016 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
34018 @item stopping-tracepoint
34019 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
34020 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
34024 @itemx frames-created
34025 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
34026 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
34027 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
34028 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
34032 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
34033 remaining space. These fields are optional.
34036 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
34037 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
34038 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
34042 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
34043 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
34044 that the trace run will stop.
34047 The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
34048 optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
34052 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34054 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
34056 @subheading -trace-stop
34057 @findex -trace-stop
34059 @subsubheading Synopsis
34065 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
34066 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
34067 @samp{running} fields are not output.
34069 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34071 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
34074 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34075 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
34076 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
34080 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
34081 @findex -symbol-info-address
34083 @subsubheading Synopsis
34086 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
34089 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
34091 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34093 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
34095 @subsubheading Example
34099 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
34100 @findex -symbol-info-file
34102 @subsubheading Synopsis
34108 Show the file for the symbol.
34110 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34112 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
34113 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
34115 @subsubheading Example
34119 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
34120 @findex -symbol-info-function
34122 @subsubheading Synopsis
34125 -symbol-info-function
34128 Show which function the symbol lives in.
34130 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34132 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
34134 @subsubheading Example
34138 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
34139 @findex -symbol-info-line
34141 @subsubheading Synopsis
34147 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
34149 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34151 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
34152 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
34154 @subsubheading Example
34158 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
34159 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
34161 @subsubheading Synopsis
34164 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
34167 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
34169 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34171 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
34173 @subsubheading Example
34177 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
34178 @findex -symbol-list-functions
34180 @subsubheading Synopsis
34183 -symbol-list-functions
34186 List the functions in the executable.
34188 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34190 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
34191 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
34193 @subsubheading Example
34198 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
34199 @findex -symbol-list-lines
34201 @subsubheading Synopsis
34204 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
34207 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
34208 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
34209 ascending PC order.
34211 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34213 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
34215 @subsubheading Example
34218 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
34219 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
34225 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
34226 @findex -symbol-list-types
34228 @subsubheading Synopsis
34234 List all the type names.
34236 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34238 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
34239 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
34241 @subsubheading Example
34245 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
34246 @findex -symbol-list-variables
34248 @subsubheading Synopsis
34251 -symbol-list-variables
34254 List all the global and static variable names.
34256 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34258 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
34260 @subsubheading Example
34264 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
34265 @findex -symbol-locate
34267 @subsubheading Synopsis
34273 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34275 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
34277 @subsubheading Example
34281 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
34282 @findex -symbol-type
34284 @subsubheading Synopsis
34287 -symbol-type @var{variable}
34290 Show type of @var{variable}.
34292 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34294 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
34295 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
34297 @subsubheading Example
34302 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34303 @node GDB/MI File Commands
34304 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
34306 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
34307 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
34309 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
34310 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
34312 @subsubheading Synopsis
34315 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
34318 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
34319 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
34320 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
34321 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
34322 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
34325 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34327 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
34329 @subsubheading Example
34333 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34339 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
34340 @findex -file-exec-file
34342 @subsubheading Synopsis
34345 -file-exec-file @var{file}
34348 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
34349 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
34350 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
34351 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
34354 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34356 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
34358 @subsubheading Example
34362 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34369 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
34370 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
34372 @subsubheading Synopsis
34375 -file-list-exec-sections
34378 List the sections of the current executable file.
34380 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34382 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
34383 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
34384 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
34386 @subsubheading Example
34391 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
34392 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
34394 @subsubheading Synopsis
34397 -file-list-exec-source-file
34400 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
34401 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
34402 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
34403 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
34405 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34407 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
34409 @subsubheading Example
34413 123-file-list-exec-source-file
34414 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
34419 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
34420 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
34422 @subsubheading Synopsis
34425 -file-list-exec-source-files
34428 List the source files for the current executable.
34430 It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
34431 name) of a source file.
34433 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34435 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
34436 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
34438 @subsubheading Example
34441 -file-list-exec-source-files
34443 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
34444 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
34445 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
34450 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
34451 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
34453 @subsubheading Synopsis
34456 -file-list-shared-libraries
34459 List the shared libraries in the program.
34461 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34463 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
34465 @subsubheading Example
34469 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
34470 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
34472 @subsubheading Synopsis
34475 -file-list-symbol-files
34480 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34482 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
34484 @subsubheading Example
34489 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
34490 @findex -file-symbol-file
34492 @subsubheading Synopsis
34495 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
34498 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
34499 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
34500 produced, except for a completion notification.
34502 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34504 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
34506 @subsubheading Example
34510 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34516 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34517 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
34518 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
34520 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
34522 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
34524 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
34526 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
34528 @c @subheading -overlay-map
34530 @c @subheading -overlay-off
34532 @c @subheading -overlay-on
34534 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
34536 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34537 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
34538 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
34540 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
34542 @c @subheading -signal-handle
34544 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
34546 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
34550 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34551 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
34552 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
34555 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
34556 @findex -target-attach
34558 @subsubheading Synopsis
34561 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
34564 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
34565 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
34566 group, the id previously returned by
34567 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
34569 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34571 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
34573 @subsubheading Example
34577 =thread-created,id="1"
34578 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
34584 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
34585 @findex -target-compare-sections
34587 @subsubheading Synopsis
34590 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
34593 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
34594 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
34596 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34598 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
34600 @subsubheading Example
34605 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
34606 @findex -target-detach
34608 @subsubheading Synopsis
34611 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
34614 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
34615 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
34616 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
34618 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34620 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
34622 @subsubheading Example
34632 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
34633 @findex -target-disconnect
34635 @subsubheading Synopsis
34641 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
34642 generally not resumed.
34644 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34646 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
34648 @subsubheading Example
34658 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
34659 @findex -target-download
34661 @subsubheading Synopsis
34667 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
34668 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
34672 The name of the section.
34674 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
34676 The size of the section.
34678 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
34680 The size of the overall executable to download.
34684 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
34685 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
34687 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
34688 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
34692 The name of the section.
34694 The size of the section.
34696 The size of the overall executable to download.
34700 At the end, a summary is printed.
34702 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34704 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
34706 @subsubheading Example
34708 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
34709 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
34714 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
34715 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
34716 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
34717 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
34718 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
34719 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
34720 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
34721 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
34722 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
34723 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
34724 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
34725 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
34726 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
34727 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
34728 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
34729 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
34730 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
34731 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
34732 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
34733 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
34734 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
34735 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
34736 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
34737 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
34738 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
34739 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
34740 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
34741 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34742 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34743 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
34744 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
34745 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
34746 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
34747 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
34748 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
34749 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
34750 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
34751 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
34752 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
34753 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
34754 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
34755 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
34756 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
34763 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
34764 @findex -target-exec-status
34766 @subsubheading Synopsis
34769 -target-exec-status
34772 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
34773 not, for instance).
34775 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34777 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
34779 @subsubheading Example
34783 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
34784 @findex -target-list-available-targets
34786 @subsubheading Synopsis
34789 -target-list-available-targets
34792 List the possible targets to connect to.
34794 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34796 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
34798 @subsubheading Example
34802 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
34803 @findex -target-list-current-targets
34805 @subsubheading Synopsis
34808 -target-list-current-targets
34811 Describe the current target.
34813 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34815 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
34818 @subsubheading Example
34822 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
34823 @findex -target-list-parameters
34825 @subsubheading Synopsis
34828 -target-list-parameters
34834 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34838 @subsubheading Example
34842 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
34843 @findex -target-select
34845 @subsubheading Synopsis
34848 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
34851 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
34855 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
34856 @item @var{parameters}
34857 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
34858 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
34861 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
34862 which the target program is, in the following form:
34865 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
34866 args=[@var{arg list}]
34869 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34871 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
34873 @subsubheading Example
34877 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
34878 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
34882 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34883 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
34884 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
34887 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
34888 @findex -target-file-put
34890 @subsubheading Synopsis
34893 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
34896 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
34897 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
34899 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34901 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
34903 @subsubheading Example
34907 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
34913 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
34914 @findex -target-file-get
34916 @subsubheading Synopsis
34919 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
34922 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
34923 on the host system.
34925 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34927 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
34929 @subsubheading Example
34933 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
34939 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
34940 @findex -target-file-delete
34942 @subsubheading Synopsis
34945 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
34948 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
34950 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34952 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
34954 @subsubheading Example
34958 -target-file-delete remotefile
34964 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34965 @node GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands
34966 @section Ada Exceptions @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
34968 @subheading The @code{-info-ada-exceptions} Command
34969 @findex -info-ada-exceptions
34971 @subsubheading Synopsis
34974 -info-ada-exceptions [ @var{regexp}]
34977 List all Ada exceptions defined within the program being debugged.
34978 With a regular expression @var{regexp}, only those exceptions whose
34979 names match @var{regexp} are listed.
34981 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34983 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info exceptions}.
34985 @subsubheading Result
34987 The result is a table of Ada exceptions. The following columns are
34988 defined for each exception:
34992 The name of the exception.
34995 The address of the exception.
34999 @subsubheading Example
35002 -info-ada-exceptions aint
35003 ^done,ada-exceptions=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="2",
35004 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
35005 @{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="address",colhdr="Address"@}],
35006 body=[@{name="constraint_error",address="0x0000000000613da0"@},
35007 @{name="const.aint_global_e",address="0x0000000000613b00"@}]@}
35010 @subheading Catching Ada Exceptions
35012 The commands describing how to ask @value{GDBN} to stop when a program
35013 raises an exception are described at @ref{Ada Exception GDB/MI
35014 Catchpoint Commands}.
35017 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
35018 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
35019 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
35021 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
35023 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
35026 @subsubheading Synopsis
35032 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
35034 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35036 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
35038 @subsubheading Example
35048 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
35049 @findex -exec-abort
35051 @subsubheading Synopsis
35057 Kill the inferior running program.
35059 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35061 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
35063 @subsubheading Example
35068 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
35071 @subsubheading Synopsis
35077 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
35078 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
35080 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35082 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
35084 @subsubheading Example
35094 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
35097 @subsubheading Synopsis
35103 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
35105 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35107 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
35109 @subsubheading Example
35118 @c @subheading -gdb-source
35121 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
35122 @findex -gdb-version
35124 @subsubheading Synopsis
35130 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
35132 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35134 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
35135 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
35137 @subsubheading Example
35139 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
35145 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
35146 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
35147 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
35148 ~ certain conditions.
35149 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
35150 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
35152 ~This GDB was configured as
35153 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
35158 @subheading The @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} Command
35159 @cindex @code{-info-gdb-mi-command}
35160 @findex -info-gdb-mi-command
35162 @subsubheading Synopsis
35165 -info-gdb-mi-command @var{cmd_name}
35168 Query support for the @sc{gdb/mi} command named @var{cmd_name}.
35170 Note that the dash (@code{-}) starting all @sc{gdb/mi} commands
35171 is technically not part of the command name (@pxref{GDB/MI Input
35172 Syntax}), and thus should be omitted in @var{cmd_name}. However,
35173 for ease of use, this command also accepts the form with the leading
35176 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35178 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
35180 @subsubheading Result
35182 The result is a tuple. There is currently only one field:
35186 This field is equal to @code{"true"} if the @sc{gdb/mi} command exists,
35187 @code{"false"} otherwise.
35191 @subsubheading Example
35193 Here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command does not exist:
35196 -info-gdb-mi-command unsupported-command
35197 ^done,command=@{exists="false"@}
35201 And here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command is known
35205 -info-gdb-mi-command symbol-list-lines
35206 ^done,command=@{exists="true"@}
35209 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
35210 @findex -list-features
35212 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
35213 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
35214 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
35215 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
35216 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
35219 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
35220 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
35221 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
35227 (gdb) -list-features
35228 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
35231 The current list of features is:
35234 @item frozen-varobjs
35235 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
35236 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
35237 of @code{-varobj-create}.
35238 @item pending-breakpoints
35239 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
35242 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
35243 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
35244 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
35246 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
35247 @item data-read-memory-bytes
35248 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
35249 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
35250 @item breakpoint-notifications
35251 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
35252 CLI will be announced via async records.
35253 @item ada-task-info
35254 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
35255 @item language-option
35256 Indicates that all @sc{gdb/mi} commands accept the @option{--language}
35257 option (@pxref{Context management}).
35258 @item info-gdb-mi-command
35259 Indicates support for the @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} command.
35260 @item undefined-command-error-code
35261 Indicates support for the "undefined-command" error code in error result
35262 records, produced when trying to execute an undefined @sc{gdb/mi} command
35263 (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}).
35266 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
35267 @findex -list-target-features
35269 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
35270 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
35271 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
35272 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
35273 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
35274 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
35275 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
35279 (gdb) -list-target-features
35280 ^done,result=["async"]
35283 The current list of features is:
35287 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
35288 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
35289 while the target is running.
35292 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
35293 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
35297 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
35298 @findex -list-thread-groups
35300 @subheading Synopsis
35303 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
35306 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
35307 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
35308 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
35309 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
35310 top-level thread groups.
35312 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
35313 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
35314 available on the target.
35316 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
35317 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
35318 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
35319 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
35320 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
35321 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
35322 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
35323 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
35325 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
35326 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
35327 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
35328 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
35329 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
35330 @samp{threads} field.
35332 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
35333 the following caveats:
35337 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
35338 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
35339 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
35342 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
35343 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
35344 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
35345 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
35346 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
35347 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
35351 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
35352 have the following fields:
35356 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
35357 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
35358 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
35361 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
35365 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
35366 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
35369 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
35370 absent for an available thread group.
35373 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
35374 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
35375 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
35378 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
35379 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
35380 such information is not available.
35383 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
35384 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
35385 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
35389 @subheading Example
35393 -list-thread-groups
35394 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
35395 -list-thread-groups 17
35396 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
35397 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
35398 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
35399 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
35400 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
35401 -list-thread-groups --available
35402 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
35403 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
35404 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
35405 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
35406 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
35407 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
35408 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
35409 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
35410 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
35413 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
35416 @subsubheading Synopsis
35419 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
35422 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
35423 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
35424 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
35425 of data of that type.
35427 The types of information available depend on the target operating
35430 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35432 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
35434 @subsubheading Example
35436 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
35442 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
35443 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
35444 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
35445 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
35446 body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
35447 col2="Processes"@},
35448 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
35449 col2="Process groups"@},
35450 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
35452 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
35453 col2="File descriptors"@},
35454 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
35456 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
35457 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
35458 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
35459 col2="Semaphores"@},
35460 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
35461 col2="Message queues"@},
35462 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
35463 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
35466 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
35467 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
35468 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
35469 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
35470 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
35471 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
35472 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
35473 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
35475 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
35476 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
35480 (Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
35481 does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
35482 for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
35483 popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
35484 @code{info os} omits it.)
35486 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
35487 @findex -add-inferior
35489 @subheading Synopsis
35495 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
35496 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
35497 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
35498 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
35499 field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
35500 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
35502 @subheading Example
35507 ^done,inferior="i3"
35510 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
35511 @findex -interpreter-exec
35513 @subheading Synopsis
35516 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
35518 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
35520 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
35522 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35524 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
35526 @subheading Example
35530 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
35531 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
35532 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
35533 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
35538 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
35539 @findex -inferior-tty-set
35541 @subheading Synopsis
35544 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35547 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
35549 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35551 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
35553 @subheading Example
35557 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35562 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
35563 @findex -inferior-tty-show
35565 @subheading Synopsis
35571 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
35573 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35575 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
35577 @subheading Example
35581 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35585 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
35589 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
35590 @findex -enable-timings
35592 @subheading Synopsis
35595 -enable-timings [yes | no]
35598 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
35599 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
35600 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
35601 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
35603 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35607 @subheading Example
35615 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
35616 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
35617 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
35619 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
35627 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
35628 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
35629 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
35630 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
35635 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
35637 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
35638 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
35639 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
35640 relatively high level.
35642 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
35646 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
35650 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
35651 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
35652 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
35653 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
35654 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
35655 * Annotations for Running::
35656 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
35657 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
35660 @node Annotations Overview
35661 @section What is an Annotation?
35662 @cindex annotations
35664 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
35665 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
35666 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
35667 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
35668 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
35669 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
35670 cannot contain newline characters.
35672 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
35673 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
35674 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
35675 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
35676 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
35677 means those three characters as output.
35679 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
35680 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
35681 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
35682 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
35683 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
35684 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
35685 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
35686 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
35687 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
35690 @kindex set annotate
35691 @item set annotate @var{level}
35692 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
35693 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
35695 @item show annotate
35696 @kindex show annotate
35697 Show the current annotation level.
35700 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
35702 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
35705 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
35707 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
35708 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
35709 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
35710 under certain conditions.
35711 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
35712 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
35714 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
35725 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
35726 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
35727 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
35728 output from @value{GDBN}.
35730 @node Server Prefix
35731 @section The Server Prefix
35732 @cindex server prefix
35734 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
35735 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
35736 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
35737 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
35738 a transparent manner.
35740 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
35741 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
35742 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
35743 @code{print} command.
35745 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
35746 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
35749 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
35751 @cindex annotations for prompts
35752 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
35753 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
35756 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
35757 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
35758 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
35759 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
35760 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
35761 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
35762 features the following annotations:
35770 The input types are
35773 @findex pre-prompt annotation
35774 @findex prompt annotation
35775 @findex post-prompt annotation
35777 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
35779 @findex pre-commands annotation
35780 @findex commands annotation
35781 @findex post-commands annotation
35783 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
35784 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
35786 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
35787 @findex overload-choice annotation
35788 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
35789 @item overload-choice
35790 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
35792 @findex pre-query annotation
35793 @findex query annotation
35794 @findex post-query annotation
35796 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
35798 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
35799 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
35800 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
35801 @item prompt-for-continue
35802 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
35803 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
35804 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
35805 presence of annotations.
35810 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
35812 @findex quit annotation
35817 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
35819 @findex error annotation
35824 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
35826 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
35827 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
35828 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
35829 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
35830 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
35831 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
35834 @findex error-begin annotation
35835 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
35841 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
35844 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
35845 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
35846 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
35849 @section Invalidation Notices
35851 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
35852 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
35856 @findex frames-invalid annotation
35857 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
35859 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
35862 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
35863 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
35865 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
35866 deleted a breakpoint.
35869 @node Annotations for Running
35870 @section Running the Program
35871 @cindex annotations for running programs
35873 @findex starting annotation
35874 @findex stopping annotation
35875 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
35876 @code{step} or @code{continue},
35882 is output. When the program stops,
35888 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
35889 annotations describe how the program stopped.
35892 @findex exited annotation
35893 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
35894 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
35895 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
35897 @findex signalled annotation
35898 @findex signal-name annotation
35899 @findex signal-name-end annotation
35900 @findex signal-string annotation
35901 @findex signal-string-end annotation
35902 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
35903 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
35904 annotation continues:
35910 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
35914 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
35919 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
35920 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
35921 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
35922 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
35923 user's benefit and have no particular format.
35925 @findex signal annotation
35927 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
35928 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
35929 terminated with it.
35931 @findex breakpoint annotation
35932 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
35933 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
35935 @findex watchpoint annotation
35936 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
35937 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
35940 @node Source Annotations
35941 @section Displaying Source
35942 @cindex annotations for source display
35944 @findex source annotation
35945 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
35948 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
35951 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
35952 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
35953 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
35954 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
35955 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
35956 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
35957 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
35958 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
35959 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
35960 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
35961 depend on the language).
35963 @node JIT Interface
35964 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
35965 @cindex just-in-time compilation
35966 @cindex JIT compilation interface
35968 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
35969 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
35970 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
35971 performance while maintaining platform independence.
35973 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
35974 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
35975 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
35976 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
35977 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
35978 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
35980 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
35981 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
35982 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
35983 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
35986 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
35987 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
35988 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
35989 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
35990 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
35991 out about additional code.
35994 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
35995 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
35996 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
35997 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
36001 @section JIT Declarations
36003 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
36004 implement the interface:
36014 struct jit_code_entry
36016 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
36017 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
36018 const char *symfile_addr;
36019 uint64_t symfile_size;
36022 struct jit_descriptor
36025 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
36026 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
36027 uint32_t action_flag;
36028 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
36029 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
36032 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
36033 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
36035 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
36036 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
36037 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
36040 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
36041 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
36042 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
36044 @node Registering Code
36045 @section Registering Code
36047 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
36051 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
36052 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
36055 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
36059 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
36062 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
36065 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
36066 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
36069 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
36070 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
36071 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
36072 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
36074 @node Unregistering Code
36075 @section Unregistering Code
36077 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
36081 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
36084 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
36087 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
36088 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
36091 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
36092 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
36094 @node Custom Debug Info
36095 @section Custom Debug Info
36096 @cindex custom JIT debug info
36097 @cindex JIT debug info reader
36099 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
36100 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
36101 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
36102 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
36103 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
36104 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
36105 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
36106 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
36107 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
36109 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
36110 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
36111 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
36112 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
36113 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
36114 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
36118 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
36119 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
36122 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
36123 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
36124 @kindex jit-reader-load
36125 @kindex jit-reader-unload
36127 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
36128 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
36131 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
36132 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}. @var{reader} is a shared
36133 object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
36134 the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
36135 pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
36136 system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
36137 @file{/usr/local/lib}).
36139 Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
36140 reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
36141 reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
36142 the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
36143 @code{jit-reader-load}.
36145 @item jit-reader-unload
36146 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
36150 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
36151 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
36152 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
36154 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
36155 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
36157 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
36158 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
36159 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
36160 the system include directory.
36162 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
36163 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
36164 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
36166 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
36167 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
36169 @findex gdb_init_reader
36171 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
36174 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
36176 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
36177 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
36178 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
36179 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
36180 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
36181 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
36184 struct gdb_reader_funcs
36186 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
36187 int reader_version;
36189 /* For use by the reader. */
36192 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
36193 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
36194 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
36195 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
36199 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
36200 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
36202 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
36203 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
36204 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
36205 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
36206 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
36207 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
36208 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
36209 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
36210 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
36211 target's address space.
36213 @node In-Process Agent
36214 @chapter In-Process Agent
36215 @cindex debugging agent
36216 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
36217 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
36218 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
36219 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
36220 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
36221 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
36222 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
36223 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
36224 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
36225 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
36226 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
36227 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
36228 behavior without interrupting it.
36230 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
36231 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
36232 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
36233 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
36234 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
36235 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
36236 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
36237 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
36238 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
36240 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
36241 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
36242 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
36243 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
36245 @anchor{Control Agent}
36246 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
36247 debugging with the following commands:
36250 @kindex set agent on
36252 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
36253 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
36254 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
36255 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
36256 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
36257 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
36259 @kindex set agent off
36260 @item set agent off
36261 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
36262 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
36266 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
36267 the in-process agent.
36271 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
36274 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
36275 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
36276 @cindex in-process agent protocol
36278 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
36279 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
36280 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
36281 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
36282 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
36283 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
36284 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
36285 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
36286 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
36289 * IPA Protocol Objects::
36290 * IPA Protocol Commands::
36293 @node IPA Protocol Objects
36294 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
36295 @cindex ipa protocol objects
36297 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
36298 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
36300 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
36301 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
36302 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
36303 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
36307 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
36308 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
36310 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
36311 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
36315 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
36319 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
36320 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
36321 @anchor{agent expression object}
36323 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
36324 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
36325 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
36326 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
36328 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
36329 @anchor{tracepoint object}
36333 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
36336 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
36337 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
36338 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
36339 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
36340 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
36341 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
36342 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36343 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
36344 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
36345 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
36346 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
36347 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
36348 memory address for collecting.
36349 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
36350 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36351 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
36352 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36353 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
36354 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
36355 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
36356 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
36357 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
36358 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
36359 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
36360 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
36361 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
36362 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
36363 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
36364 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
36365 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
36366 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
36367 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
36368 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
36369 @ref{agent expression object}
36370 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
36371 @ref{agent expression object}
36372 @item actions @tab variable
36373 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
36376 @node IPA Protocol Commands
36377 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
36378 @cindex ipa protocol commands
36380 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
36381 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
36385 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
36386 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
36387 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
36388 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
36393 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
36394 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
36395 @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
36396 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
36397 @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
36398 @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
36405 Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
36406 is about to kill inferiors.
36414 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
36415 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
36422 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
36423 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
36427 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
36428 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
36429 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
36431 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
36433 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
36434 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
36435 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
36436 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
36438 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
36439 information that enables us to fix the bug.
36442 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
36443 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
36447 @section Have You Found a Bug?
36448 @cindex bug criteria
36450 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
36453 @cindex fatal signal
36454 @cindex debugger crash
36455 @cindex crash of debugger
36457 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
36458 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
36460 @cindex error on valid input
36462 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
36463 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
36464 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
36466 @cindex invalid input
36468 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
36469 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
36470 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
36471 for traditional practice''.
36474 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
36475 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
36478 @node Bug Reporting
36479 @section How to Report Bugs
36480 @cindex bug reports
36481 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
36483 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
36484 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
36485 contact that organization first.
36487 You can find contact information for many support companies and
36488 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
36490 @c should add a web page ref...
36493 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
36494 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
36495 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
36496 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
36497 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
36500 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
36501 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
36502 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
36505 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
36506 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
36507 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
36508 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
36509 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
36510 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
36511 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
36512 bug reports to the mailing list.
36514 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
36515 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
36516 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
36520 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
36521 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
36522 fact or leave it out, state it!
36524 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
36525 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
36526 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
36527 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
36528 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
36529 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
36530 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
36531 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
36532 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
36534 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
36535 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
36536 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
36539 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
36540 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
36541 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
36544 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
36548 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
36549 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
36552 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
36553 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
36556 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
36560 The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
36561 @value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
36562 @option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
36563 @code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
36566 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
36567 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
36570 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
36571 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
36572 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
36573 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
36577 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
36578 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
36579 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
36580 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
36582 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
36583 and then we might not encounter the bug.
36586 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
36590 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
36591 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
36593 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
36594 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
36595 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
36596 a chance to make a mistake.
36598 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
36599 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
36600 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
36601 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
36602 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
36603 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
36604 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
36605 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
36608 @cindex recording a session script
36609 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
36610 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
36611 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
36612 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
36614 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
36615 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
36618 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
36619 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
36620 it by context, not by line number.
36622 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
36623 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
36627 Here are some things that are not necessary:
36631 A description of the envelope of the bug.
36633 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
36634 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
36635 changes will not affect it.
36637 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
36638 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
36639 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
36640 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
36642 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
36643 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
36644 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
36645 less time, and so on.
36647 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
36648 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
36651 A patch for the bug.
36653 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
36654 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
36655 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
36656 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
36658 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
36659 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
36660 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
36661 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
36663 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
36664 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
36665 help us to understand.
36668 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
36670 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
36671 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
36674 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
36675 @c and consists of the two following files:
36678 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
36679 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
36680 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
36681 @include rluser.texi
36682 @include hsuser.texi
36686 @appendix In Memoriam
36688 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
36693 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
36694 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
36695 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
36697 @item Michael Snyder
36698 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
36699 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
36700 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
36701 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
36704 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
36705 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
36707 @node Formatting Documentation
36708 @appendix Formatting Documentation
36710 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
36711 @cindex reference card
36712 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
36713 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
36714 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
36715 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
36716 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
36717 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
36719 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
36720 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
36726 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
36727 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
36728 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
36729 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
36730 your @sc{dvi} output program.
36732 @cindex documentation
36734 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
36735 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
36736 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
36737 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
36738 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
36739 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
36741 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
36742 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
36743 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
36744 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
36745 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
36746 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
36747 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
36748 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
36750 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
36751 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
36754 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
36755 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
36756 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
36763 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
36764 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
36765 Texinfo definitions file.
36767 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
36768 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
36769 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
36770 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
36771 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
36772 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
36773 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
36775 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
36776 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
36777 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
36778 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
36779 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
36782 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
36783 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
36784 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
36785 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
36791 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
36793 @node Installing GDB
36794 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
36795 @cindex installation
36798 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
36799 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
36800 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
36801 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
36802 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
36803 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
36807 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
36808 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
36810 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
36811 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
36813 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
36815 @item ISO C90 compiler
36816 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
36817 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
36821 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
36825 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
36826 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
36827 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
36828 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
36829 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
36830 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
36836 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
36838 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
36840 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
36841 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
36843 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
36845 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
36847 Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format})
36851 @cindex compressed debug sections
36852 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
36853 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
36854 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
36855 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
36856 information in such binaries.
36858 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
36859 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
36860 @url{http://zlib.net}.
36863 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
36864 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
36865 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
36866 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
36868 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
36869 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
36870 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
36871 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
36873 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
36874 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
36875 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
36877 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
36878 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
36879 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
36880 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
36881 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
36882 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
36883 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
36884 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
36887 @node Running Configure
36888 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
36889 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
36890 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
36891 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
36892 build the @code{gdb} program.
36894 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
36895 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
36896 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
36897 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
36900 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
36901 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
36902 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
36904 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
36905 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
36908 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
36909 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
36911 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
36912 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
36914 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
36915 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
36917 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
36918 @sc{gnu} include files
36920 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
36921 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
36923 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
36924 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
36926 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
36927 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
36929 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
36930 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
36932 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
36933 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
36936 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
36937 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
36938 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
36940 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
36941 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
36942 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
36948 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36949 ./configure @var{host}
36954 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
36955 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
36956 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
36957 correct value by examining your system.)
36959 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
36960 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
36961 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
36962 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
36965 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
36966 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
36967 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
36970 sh configure @var{host}
36973 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
36974 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
36975 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
36977 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
36978 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
36980 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
36981 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
36982 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
36983 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
36984 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
36985 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
36986 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
36987 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
36988 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36990 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
36991 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
36992 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
36993 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
36994 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
36996 @node Separate Objdir
36997 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
36999 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
37000 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
37001 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
37002 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
37003 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
37004 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
37005 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
37006 program specified there.
37008 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
37009 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
37010 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
37011 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
37012 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
37013 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
37015 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
37016 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
37020 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
37023 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
37028 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
37029 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
37030 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
37031 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
37032 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
37033 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
37035 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
37036 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
37037 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
37038 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
37039 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
37041 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
37042 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
37043 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
37044 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
37045 You specify a cross-debugging target by
37046 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
37048 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
37049 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
37050 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
37052 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
37053 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
37054 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
37055 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
37056 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
37058 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
37059 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
37060 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
37064 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
37066 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
37067 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
37068 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
37069 of information in the following pattern:
37072 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
37075 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
37076 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
37077 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
37079 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
37080 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
37081 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
37082 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
37083 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
37084 abbreviations---for example:
37087 % sh config.sub i386-linux
37089 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
37090 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
37091 % sh config.sub hp9k700
37093 % sh config.sub sun4
37094 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
37095 % sh config.sub sun3
37096 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
37097 % sh config.sub i986v
37098 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
37102 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
37103 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
37105 @node Configure Options
37106 @section @file{configure} Options
37108 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
37109 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
37110 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
37111 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
37114 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
37115 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
37116 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
37117 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
37118 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
37119 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
37124 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
37125 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
37130 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
37132 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
37133 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
37136 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
37137 Configure the source to install programs under directory
37140 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
37142 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
37143 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
37144 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
37145 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
37146 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
37147 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
37148 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
37149 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
37150 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
37151 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
37154 @item --norecursion
37155 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
37156 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
37158 @item --target=@var{target}
37159 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
37160 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
37161 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
37163 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
37165 @item @var{host} @dots{}
37166 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
37168 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
37171 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
37172 needed for special purposes only.
37174 @node System-wide configuration
37175 @section System-wide configuration and settings
37176 @cindex system-wide init file
37178 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
37179 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
37180 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
37182 Here is the corresponding configure option:
37185 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
37186 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
37190 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
37191 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
37195 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
37196 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
37197 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
37198 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
37199 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
37200 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
37203 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
37204 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
37205 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
37206 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
37207 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
37210 If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
37211 @option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
37212 data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
37213 time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
37214 system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
37215 @option{--data-directory} command-line option.
37216 Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
37217 initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
37218 started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
37222 * System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
37225 @node System-wide Configuration Scripts
37226 @subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
37227 @cindex system-wide configuration scripts
37229 The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
37230 (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
37231 a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
37232 automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
37233 configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
37234 should be able to source them by hand as needed.
37236 The following scripts are currently available:
37239 @item @file{elinos.py}
37241 @cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
37242 This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
37243 It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
37244 ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
37245 shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
37246 and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
37248 @item @file{wrs-linux.py}
37249 @pindex wrs-linux.py
37250 @cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
37251 This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
37252 Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
37253 the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
37257 @node Maintenance Commands
37258 @appendix Maintenance Commands
37259 @cindex maintenance commands
37260 @cindex internal commands
37262 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
37263 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
37264 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
37265 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
37266 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
37269 @kindex maint agent
37270 @kindex maint agent-eval
37271 @item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
37272 @itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
37273 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
37274 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
37275 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
37276 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
37277 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
37278 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
37279 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
37280 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
37281 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
37282 addition and return the sum.
37283 If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
37284 If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
37286 @kindex maint agent-printf
37287 @item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
37288 Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
37289 into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
37290 This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
37291 printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
37293 @kindex maint info breakpoints
37294 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
37295 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
37296 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
37297 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
37298 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
37303 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
37306 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
37309 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
37310 @code{longjmp} calls.
37312 @item longjmp resume
37313 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
37316 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
37319 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
37322 Shared library events.
37326 @kindex maint info bfds
37327 @item maint info bfds
37328 This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
37329 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
37331 @kindex set displaced-stepping
37332 @kindex show displaced-stepping
37333 @cindex displaced stepping support
37334 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
37335 @item set displaced-stepping
37336 @itemx show displaced-stepping
37337 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
37338 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
37339 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
37340 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
37341 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
37344 @item set displaced-stepping on
37345 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
37346 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
37348 @item set displaced-stepping off
37349 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
37350 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
37352 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
37353 @item set displaced-stepping auto
37354 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
37355 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
37356 architecture supports displaced stepping.
37359 @kindex maint check-psymtabs
37360 @item maint check-psymtabs
37361 Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
37362 Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
37364 @kindex maint check-symtabs
37365 @item maint check-symtabs
37366 Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
37368 @kindex maint expand-symtabs
37369 @item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
37370 Expand symbol tables.
37371 If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
37372 names matching @var{regexp}.
37374 @kindex maint cplus first_component
37375 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
37376 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
37378 @kindex maint cplus namespace
37379 @item maint cplus namespace
37380 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
37382 @kindex maint demangle
37383 @item maint demangle @var{name}
37384 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
37386 @kindex maint deprecate
37387 @kindex maint undeprecate
37388 @cindex deprecated commands
37389 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
37390 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
37391 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
37392 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
37393 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
37394 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
37395 the replacement as part of the warning.
37397 @kindex maint dump-me
37398 @item maint dump-me
37399 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
37400 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
37401 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
37402 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
37404 @kindex maint internal-error
37405 @kindex maint internal-warning
37406 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
37407 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
37408 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
37409 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
37410 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
37411 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
37412 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
37413 @value{GDBN} session.
37415 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
37416 used as the text of the error or warning message.
37418 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
37421 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
37422 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
37423 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
37424 debugging may prove unreliable.
37425 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
37426 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
37430 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
37431 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
37433 @kindex maint set internal-error
37434 @kindex maint show internal-error
37435 @kindex maint set internal-warning
37436 @kindex maint show internal-warning
37437 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
37438 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
37439 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
37440 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
37441 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
37442 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
37443 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
37444 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
37445 described in the table below.
37449 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
37450 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
37453 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
37454 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
37457 @kindex maint packet
37458 @item maint packet @var{text}
37459 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
37460 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
37461 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
37462 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
37465 @kindex maint print architecture
37466 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37467 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
37468 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
37470 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
37471 @item maint print c-tdesc
37472 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
37473 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
37474 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
37476 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
37477 @item maint print dummy-frames
37478 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
37481 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
37483 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
37484 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
37486 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
37488 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
37489 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
37490 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
37491 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
37495 Takes an optional file parameter.
37497 @kindex maint print registers
37498 @kindex maint print raw-registers
37499 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
37500 @kindex maint print register-groups
37501 @kindex maint print remote-registers
37502 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37503 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37504 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37505 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37506 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37507 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
37509 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
37510 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
37511 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
37512 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
37513 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
37514 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
37515 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
37516 and offsets in the `G' packets.
37518 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
37519 write the information.
37521 @kindex maint print reggroups
37522 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37523 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
37524 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
37527 The register groups info looks like this:
37530 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
37543 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
37545 @kindex maint print objfiles
37546 @cindex info for known object files
37547 @item maint print objfiles @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
37548 Print a dump of all known object files.
37549 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print object files whose names
37550 match @var{regexp}. For each object file, this command prints its name,
37551 address in memory, and all of its psymtabs and symtabs.
37553 @kindex maint print section-scripts
37554 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
37555 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
37556 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
37557 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
37558 matching @var{regexp}.
37559 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
37560 and the full path if known.
37561 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
37563 @kindex maint print statistics
37564 @cindex bcache statistics
37565 @item maint print statistics
37566 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
37567 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
37568 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
37569 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
37570 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
37571 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
37572 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
37573 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
37574 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
37575 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
37578 @kindex maint print target-stack
37579 @cindex target stack description
37580 @item maint print target-stack
37581 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
37582 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
37583 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
37584 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
37585 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
37588 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
37589 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
37591 @kindex maint print type
37592 @cindex type chain of a data type
37593 @item maint print type @var{expr}
37594 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
37595 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
37596 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
37597 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
37598 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
37600 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
37601 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
37602 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
37603 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
37604 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
37607 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
37608 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
37609 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
37610 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
37611 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
37612 always see the disassembly form.
37614 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
37617 (gdb) info addr argc
37618 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
37622 For more information on these expressions, see
37623 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
37625 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
37626 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
37627 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
37628 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
37629 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
37631 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
37632 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
37633 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
37634 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
37635 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
37636 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
37637 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
37638 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
37639 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
37641 @kindex maint set profile
37642 @kindex maint show profile
37643 @cindex profiling GDB
37644 @item maint set profile
37645 @itemx maint show profile
37646 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
37648 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
37649 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
37650 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
37651 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
37652 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
37653 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
37654 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
37656 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
37657 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
37659 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
37660 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
37661 @cindex hardware debug registers
37662 @item maint set show-debug-regs
37663 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
37664 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
37665 registers. Use @code{on} to enable, @code{off} to disable. If
37666 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
37667 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
37668 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
37670 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
37671 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
37672 @item maint set show-all-tib
37673 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
37674 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
37675 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
37678 @kindex maint set per-command
37679 @kindex maint show per-command
37680 @item maint set per-command
37681 @itemx maint show per-command
37682 @cindex resources used by commands
37684 @value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
37685 This is useful in debugging performance problems.
37688 @item maint set per-command space [on|off]
37689 @itemx maint show per-command space
37690 Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
37691 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
37692 took, following the command's own output.
37693 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37694 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37696 @item maint set per-command time [on|off]
37697 @itemx maint show per-command time
37698 Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
37700 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
37701 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
37702 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
37703 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
37704 CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
37705 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
37706 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
37707 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
37708 spent by the program been debugged.
37709 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37710 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37712 @item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
37713 @itemx maint show per-command symtab
37714 Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
37716 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
37720 number of symbol tables
37722 number of primary symbol tables
37724 number of blocks in the blockvector
37728 @kindex maint space
37729 @cindex memory used by commands
37730 @item maint space @var{value}
37731 An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
37732 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37735 @cindex time of command execution
37736 @item maint time @var{value}
37737 An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
37738 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37740 @kindex maint translate-address
37741 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
37742 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
37743 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
37744 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
37745 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
37746 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
37747 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
37749 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
37750 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
37751 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
37755 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
37756 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
37759 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
37760 @kindex set watchdog
37761 @cindex watchdog timer
37762 @cindex timeout for commands
37763 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
37764 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
37765 reports and error and the command is aborted.
37767 @item show watchdog
37768 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
37771 @node Remote Protocol
37772 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
37777 * Stop Reply Packets::
37778 * General Query Packets::
37779 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
37780 * Tracepoint Packets::
37781 * Host I/O Packets::
37783 * Notification Packets::
37784 * Remote Non-Stop::
37785 * Packet Acknowledgment::
37787 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
37788 * Library List Format::
37789 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
37790 * Memory Map Format::
37791 * Thread List Format::
37792 * Traceframe Info Format::
37793 * Branch Trace Format::
37799 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
37800 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
37801 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
37802 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
37804 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
37805 transmitted and received data, respectively.
37807 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
37808 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
37809 @cindex remote serial protocol
37810 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
37811 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
37812 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
37813 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
37814 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
37817 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37821 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
37823 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
37824 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
37825 eight bit unsigned checksum).
37827 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
37828 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
37831 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37834 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
37836 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
37837 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
37838 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
37840 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
37841 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
37842 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
37846 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37851 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
37852 once a connection is established.
37853 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
37855 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
37856 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
37857 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
37858 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
37859 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
37860 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
37861 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
37863 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
37864 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
37867 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
37868 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
37869 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
37870 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
37872 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
37873 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
37874 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
37876 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
37877 @anchor{Binary Data}
37878 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
37879 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
37880 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
37881 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
37882 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
37885 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
37886 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
37887 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
37888 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
37889 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
37890 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
37891 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
37892 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
37893 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
37896 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
37897 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
37898 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
37899 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
37900 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
37901 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
37902 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
37903 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
37904 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
37905 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
37906 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
37909 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
37910 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
37911 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
37912 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
37915 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
37916 error number. That number is not well defined.
37918 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
37919 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
37920 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
37921 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
37924 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
37925 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
37926 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
37927 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
37928 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
37929 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
37934 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
37935 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
37936 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
37937 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
37939 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
37940 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
37941 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
37942 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
37943 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
37944 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
37945 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
37946 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
37947 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
37950 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
37951 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
37952 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
37953 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
37954 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
37955 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
37958 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
37959 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
37960 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
37961 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
37962 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
37963 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
37964 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
37965 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
37966 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
37967 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
37968 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
37969 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
37970 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
37972 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
37973 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
37974 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
37977 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
37978 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
37980 Here are the packet descriptions.
37985 @cindex @samp{!} packet
37986 @anchor{extended mode}
37987 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
37988 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
37994 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
37998 @cindex @samp{?} packet
37999 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
38000 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
38001 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
38004 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38006 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
38007 @cindex @samp{A} packet
38008 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
38009 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
38010 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
38015 The arguments were set.
38021 @cindex @samp{b} packet
38022 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
38023 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
38025 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
38026 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
38027 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
38029 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
38030 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
38031 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
38032 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
38033 of view, nothing actually happened.}
38035 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
38036 @cindex @samp{B} packet
38037 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
38038 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
38040 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
38041 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
38043 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
38046 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
38047 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
38050 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38052 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
38055 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
38056 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
38059 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38061 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
38062 @cindex @samp{c} packet
38063 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
38064 resume at current address.
38066 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
38070 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38072 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
38073 @cindex @samp{C} packet
38074 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
38075 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
38077 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
38081 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38084 @cindex @samp{d} packet
38087 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
38088 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
38092 @cindex @samp{D} packet
38093 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
38094 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
38095 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
38097 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
38098 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
38099 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
38100 big-endian hex string.
38110 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
38111 @cindex @samp{F} packet
38112 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
38113 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
38114 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
38117 @anchor{read registers packet}
38118 @cindex @samp{g} packet
38119 Read general registers.
38123 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
38124 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
38125 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
38126 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
38127 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
38128 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
38129 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
38131 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
38132 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
38133 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
38134 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
38135 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
38136 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
38137 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
38138 have been collected, and both have zero value:
38142 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
38149 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
38150 @cindex @samp{G} packet
38151 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
38152 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
38162 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
38163 @cindex @samp{H} packet
38164 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
38165 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
38166 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
38167 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
38168 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
38169 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
38170 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38181 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
38182 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
38183 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
38184 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
38185 @c described. For example:
38187 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
38188 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
38189 @c otherwise returns current registers.
38191 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
38192 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
38193 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
38195 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
38196 @anchor{cycle step packet}
38197 @cindex @samp{i} packet
38198 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
38199 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
38200 step starting at that address.
38203 @cindex @samp{I} packet
38204 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
38208 @cindex @samp{k} packet
38211 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
38212 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
38215 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
38216 @cindex @samp{m} packet
38217 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
38218 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
38220 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
38221 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
38222 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
38223 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
38224 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
38225 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
38226 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
38227 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
38231 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
38232 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
38233 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
38234 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
38239 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38240 @cindex @samp{M} packet
38241 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
38242 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
38243 hexadecimal number.
38250 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
38255 @cindex @samp{p} packet
38256 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
38257 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
38258 register value is encoded.
38262 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
38263 the register's value
38267 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
38270 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
38271 @anchor{write register packet}
38272 @cindex @samp{P} packet
38273 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
38274 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
38275 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
38285 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
38286 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
38287 @cindex @samp{q} packet
38288 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
38289 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
38290 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
38293 @cindex @samp{r} packet
38294 Reset the entire system.
38296 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
38299 @cindex @samp{R} packet
38300 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
38301 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38303 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
38305 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
38306 @cindex @samp{s} packet
38307 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
38308 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
38310 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
38314 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38316 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
38317 @anchor{step with signal packet}
38318 @cindex @samp{S} packet
38319 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
38320 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
38322 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
38326 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38328 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
38329 @cindex @samp{t} packet
38330 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
38331 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
38332 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
38334 @item T @var{thread-id}
38335 @cindex @samp{T} packet
38336 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
38341 thread is still alive
38347 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
38348 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
38350 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
38351 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
38352 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
38353 The process ID is a
38354 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
38355 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
38356 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
38358 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
38359 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
38360 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
38361 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
38362 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
38363 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
38364 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
38365 @c stopping or restarting threads.
38367 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38373 @item @r{Any stop packet}
38374 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
38376 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
38379 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
38380 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
38381 @anchor{vCont packet}
38382 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
38383 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
38384 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
38385 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
38386 in their current state in non-stop mode.
38387 Specifying multiple
38388 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
38389 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38391 Currently supported actions are:
38397 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
38401 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
38404 @item r @var{start},@var{end}
38405 Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
38406 addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
38407 The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
38408 of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
38409 a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
38411 If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
38412 becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
38413 single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
38414 jumps to @var{start}).
38416 (A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
38417 the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
38418 in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
38422 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
38423 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
38424 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
38426 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
38427 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
38428 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
38429 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
38430 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
38431 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
38432 as an implementation detail.
38434 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
38435 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
38436 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
38437 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
38441 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38444 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
38445 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
38449 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
38450 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
38451 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
38453 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
38456 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
38457 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
38458 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
38459 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
38461 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
38462 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
38463 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
38464 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
38465 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
38466 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
38467 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
38468 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
38469 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
38470 packet is received.
38480 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38481 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
38482 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
38483 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
38484 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
38485 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
38486 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
38487 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
38488 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
38489 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
38490 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
38491 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
38499 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
38505 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
38506 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
38507 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
38508 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
38509 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
38510 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
38511 request is completed.
38513 @item vKill;@var{pid}
38514 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
38515 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
38516 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
38517 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
38518 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
38528 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
38529 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
38530 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
38531 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
38532 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
38533 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
38536 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
38538 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38544 @item @r{Any stop packet}
38545 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
38549 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
38550 @xref{Notification Packets}.
38552 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38554 @cindex @samp{X} packet
38555 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
38556 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
38557 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
38567 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
38568 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
38569 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
38570 @cindex @samp{z} packet
38571 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
38572 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
38573 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
38575 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
38578 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
38579 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
38580 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
38581 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
38582 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
38583 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
38585 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38586 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
38587 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
38588 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
38589 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
38590 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
38592 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
38593 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
38594 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
38595 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
38596 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
38597 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
38598 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
38599 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
38600 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
38601 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
38603 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
38604 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
38608 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38609 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
38610 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
38614 The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
38615 run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
38616 The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
38617 nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
38618 continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
38619 Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
38620 separators. Each expression has the following form:
38624 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38625 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
38626 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
38630 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
38632 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
38633 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
38634 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
38635 target, is not defined.}
38647 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38648 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
38649 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
38650 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
38651 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
38652 address @var{addr}.
38654 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
38655 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
38656 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
38658 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
38671 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38672 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38673 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
38674 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
38675 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38676 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38688 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38689 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38690 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
38691 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
38692 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38693 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38705 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38706 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38707 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
38708 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
38709 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38710 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38724 @node Stop Reply Packets
38725 @section Stop Reply Packets
38726 @cindex stop reply packets
38728 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
38729 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
38730 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
38731 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
38732 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
38733 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
38734 @value{GDBN} source code.
38736 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
38737 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
38738 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
38744 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38745 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
38746 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
38748 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
38749 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
38750 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38751 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
38752 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
38753 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
38754 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
38755 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
38759 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
38760 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
38761 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
38762 two-digit hex number.
38765 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
38766 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38769 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
38770 the core on which the stop event was detected.
38773 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
38774 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
38775 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
38776 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
38779 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
38780 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
38784 The currently defined stop reasons are:
38790 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
38793 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
38795 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
38796 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
38797 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
38799 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
38801 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
38802 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
38803 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
38804 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
38805 for more information.
38809 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38810 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
38811 applicable to certain targets.
38813 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
38814 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
38815 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
38816 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38819 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38820 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
38822 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
38823 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
38824 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
38825 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38827 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
38828 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
38829 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
38830 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
38831 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
38833 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
38834 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
38835 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
38836 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
38837 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
38840 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
38841 this very system call.
38843 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
38844 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
38845 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
38846 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
38847 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
38848 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
38852 @node General Query Packets
38853 @section General Query Packets
38854 @cindex remote query requests
38856 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
38857 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
38858 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
38859 sending information to and from the stub.
38861 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
38862 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
38863 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
38864 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
38869 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
38871 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
38874 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
38875 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
38876 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
38877 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
38880 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
38881 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
38882 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
38883 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
38884 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
38885 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
38886 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
38887 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
38888 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
38889 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
38892 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
38893 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
38894 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
38895 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
38896 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
38898 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
38904 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
38905 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
38907 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
38908 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
38909 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
38910 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
38911 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
38912 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
38913 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
38914 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
38915 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
38916 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
38917 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
38920 @cindex current thread, remote request
38921 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
38922 Return the current thread ID.
38926 @item QC @var{thread-id}
38927 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
38928 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38929 @item @r{(anything else)}
38930 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
38933 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
38934 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
38935 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
38936 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
38937 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
38938 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
38939 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
38941 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
38942 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
38943 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
38944 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
38945 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
38946 detect trailing zeros.
38951 An error (such as memory fault)
38952 @item C @var{crc32}
38953 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
38956 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
38957 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
38958 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
38959 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
38960 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
38961 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
38962 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
38963 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
38964 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
38965 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
38968 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38973 The request succeeded.
38976 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38979 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
38983 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38984 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38985 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
38986 address space randomization.
38989 @itemx qsThreadInfo
38990 @cindex list active threads, remote request
38991 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
38992 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
38993 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
38994 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
38995 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
38996 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
38997 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
38998 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
39000 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
39004 @item m @var{thread-id}
39006 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
39007 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
39009 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
39012 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
39013 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
39014 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
39015 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
39016 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
39017 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
39020 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
39021 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
39022 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
39023 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
39024 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
39026 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
39027 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
39029 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
39030 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
39031 information associated with the variable.)
39033 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
39034 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
39035 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
39036 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
39037 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
39038 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
39042 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
39043 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
39044 local storage requested.
39047 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39050 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
39053 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
39054 @cindex get thread information block address
39055 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
39056 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
39058 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
39062 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
39063 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
39064 thread information block.
39067 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
39068 address could not be retrieved.
39071 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
39074 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
39075 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
39076 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
39077 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
39078 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
39079 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
39080 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
39082 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
39086 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
39087 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
39088 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
39089 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
39090 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
39091 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
39092 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
39096 @cindex section offsets, remote request
39097 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
39098 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
39103 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
39104 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
39105 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
39106 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
39107 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
39108 segments by the supplied offsets.
39110 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
39111 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
39112 to the @code{Bss} section.}
39114 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
39115 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
39116 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
39117 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
39118 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
39119 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
39120 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
39121 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
39122 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
39125 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
39126 @cindex thread information, remote request
39127 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
39128 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
39129 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
39130 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
39132 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
39135 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
39139 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
39140 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
39142 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
39143 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
39148 The request succeeded.
39151 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39154 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
39158 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39159 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39160 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
39161 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
39163 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
39164 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
39165 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
39166 @anchor{QPassSignals}
39167 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
39168 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
39169 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
39170 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
39171 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
39172 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
39173 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
39174 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
39175 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
39180 The request succeeded.
39183 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39186 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
39190 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
39191 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
39192 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39193 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39195 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
39196 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
39197 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
39198 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
39199 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
39200 Others should be silently discarded.
39202 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
39203 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
39204 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
39205 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
39206 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
39207 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
39210 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
39211 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
39213 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
39214 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
39215 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
39216 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
39217 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
39222 The request succeeded.
39225 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
39228 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
39232 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
39233 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
39234 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39235 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39237 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
39238 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
39239 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
39240 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
39241 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
39242 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
39243 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
39244 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
39245 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
39250 A command response with no output.
39252 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
39254 Indicate a badly formed request.
39256 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
39259 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
39260 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
39261 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
39264 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
39265 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
39267 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
39269 @cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
39270 @anchor{qSearch memory}
39271 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
39272 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
39273 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
39278 The pattern was not found.
39280 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
39282 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
39284 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
39287 @item QStartNoAckMode
39288 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
39289 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
39290 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
39291 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
39296 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
39297 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
39298 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
39299 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
39301 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
39304 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
39305 @cindex supported packets, remote query
39306 @cindex features of the remote protocol
39307 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
39308 @anchor{qSupported}
39309 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
39310 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
39311 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
39312 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
39313 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
39314 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
39315 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
39316 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
39317 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
39318 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
39319 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
39320 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
39321 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
39322 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
39326 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
39327 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
39328 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
39331 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
39332 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
39335 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
39336 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
39340 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
39341 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
39342 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
39343 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
39345 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
39346 need an associated value.
39348 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
39350 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
39351 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
39352 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
39353 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
39356 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
39357 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
39358 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
39359 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
39360 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
39362 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
39367 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
39368 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
39369 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
39370 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
39371 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
39374 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
39375 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
39376 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
39380 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
39381 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
39382 instruction reply packet}).
39385 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
39386 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
39387 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
39388 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
39389 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
39390 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
39391 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
39392 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
39393 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
39394 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
39395 all the features it supports.
39397 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
39398 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
39400 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
39401 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
39402 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
39405 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
39406 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
39407 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
39408 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
39410 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
39411 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
39412 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
39413 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
39414 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
39416 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
39418 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
39419 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
39420 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
39422 @tab Value Required
39426 @item @samp{PacketSize}
39431 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
39436 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
39441 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
39446 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
39451 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
39456 @item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
39461 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
39466 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
39471 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
39476 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
39481 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
39486 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
39491 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
39496 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39501 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
39506 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
39511 @item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
39516 @item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
39521 @item @samp{QNonStop}
39526 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
39531 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
39536 @item @samp{multiprocess}
39541 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
39546 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
39551 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
39556 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
39561 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
39566 @item @samp{QAgent}
39571 @item @samp{QAllow}
39576 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
39581 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
39586 @item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
39591 @item @samp{tracenz}
39596 @item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
39603 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
39606 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
39607 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
39608 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
39609 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
39610 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
39611 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
39612 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
39613 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
39614 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
39615 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
39617 @item qXfer:auxv:read
39618 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
39619 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
39621 @item qXfer:btrace:read
39622 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
39623 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
39625 @item qXfer:features:read
39626 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
39627 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
39629 @item qXfer:libraries:read
39630 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
39631 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
39633 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
39634 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
39635 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
39637 @item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
39638 The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
39639 @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
39640 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
39642 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
39643 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
39644 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
39646 @item qXfer:sdata:read
39647 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
39648 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
39650 @item qXfer:spu:read
39651 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
39652 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
39654 @item qXfer:spu:write
39655 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
39656 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
39658 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
39659 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
39660 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
39662 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
39663 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
39664 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
39666 @item qXfer:threads:read
39667 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
39668 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
39670 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
39671 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39672 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
39674 @item qXfer:uib:read
39675 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
39676 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
39678 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
39679 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
39680 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
39683 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
39684 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
39687 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
39688 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
39690 @item QStartNoAckMode
39691 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
39692 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
39695 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
39696 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
39697 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
39698 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
39699 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
39700 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
39701 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
39702 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
39703 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
39704 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
39705 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
39707 @item qXfer:osdata:read
39708 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
39709 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
39711 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
39712 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
39713 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
39714 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
39716 @item ConditionalTracepoints
39717 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
39718 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
39720 @item ReverseContinue
39721 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
39725 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
39728 @item TracepointSource
39729 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
39730 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
39733 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
39736 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
39738 @item QDisableRandomization
39739 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
39741 @item StaticTracepoint
39742 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
39743 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
39745 @item InstallInTrace
39746 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
39747 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
39749 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
39750 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
39751 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
39752 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
39754 @item QTBuffer:size
39755 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
39756 packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
39759 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
39760 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
39761 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
39763 @item BreakpointCommands
39764 @cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
39765 The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
39766 rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
39769 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
39772 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
39777 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
39778 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
39779 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
39780 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
39785 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39786 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39787 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
39788 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
39789 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
39793 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
39794 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
39796 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
39797 target has previously requested.
39799 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
39800 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
39806 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39807 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39808 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
39809 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
39810 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
39815 @itemx QTDisconnected
39822 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
39824 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39826 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
39827 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
39828 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
39829 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
39830 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
39831 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
39832 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
39833 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
39834 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
39835 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
39836 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
39840 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
39841 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
39842 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
39843 the thread's attributes.
39846 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
39847 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
39848 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
39867 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39869 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39870 @cindex read special object, remote request
39871 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
39872 @anchor{qXfer read}
39873 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
39874 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
39875 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
39876 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
39877 additional details about what data to access.
39879 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39880 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39881 formats, listed below.
39884 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39885 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
39886 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
39887 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
39889 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39890 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39892 @item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39893 @anchor{qXfer btrace read}
39895 Return a description of the current branch trace.
39896 @xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
39897 packet may have one of the following values:
39901 Returns all available branch trace.
39904 Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
39905 the last read request.
39908 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
39909 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39911 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39912 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
39913 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
39914 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
39915 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
39917 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39918 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39920 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39921 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
39922 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
39923 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39924 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39926 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
39927 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
39928 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
39930 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39931 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39933 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39934 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
39935 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
39936 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
39937 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
39938 stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
39939 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39940 (@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
39942 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
39943 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
39945 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39946 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39948 If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
39949 packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
39950 contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
39951 arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
39954 @item start=@var{address}
39955 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39956 link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
39957 then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
39958 chosen as the starting point.
39960 @item prev=@var{address}
39961 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39962 link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
39963 specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
39964 the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
39965 exists prior to the starting point.
39969 Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
39972 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39973 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
39974 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
39975 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39976 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39978 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39979 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39981 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39982 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
39984 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
39985 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
39986 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
39989 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39990 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39991 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39993 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39994 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
39995 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
39996 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39997 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39999 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40000 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
40001 (@pxref{qSupported}).
40003 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40004 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
40005 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
40006 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
40007 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
40008 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
40009 in that context to be accessed.
40011 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40012 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
40013 (@pxref{qSupported}).
40015 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
40016 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
40017 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
40018 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
40019 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
40021 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40022 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40024 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
40025 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
40027 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
40028 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
40029 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
40031 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40032 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40034 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40035 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
40037 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
40038 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
40040 This packet is not probed by default.
40042 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
40043 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
40044 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
40045 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
40046 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
40048 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40049 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40051 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
40052 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
40053 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
40054 @xref{Operating System Information}.
40061 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
40062 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
40063 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
40064 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
40065 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
40069 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
40070 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
40071 than the @var{length} in the request.
40074 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
40075 There is no more data to be read.
40078 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
40081 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
40082 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
40085 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
40086 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
40089 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
40090 @cindex write data into object, remote request
40091 @anchor{qXfer write}
40092 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
40093 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
40094 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
40095 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
40096 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
40099 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
40100 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
40101 formats, listed below.
40104 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
40105 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
40106 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
40107 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
40108 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
40110 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40111 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
40112 (@pxref{qSupported}).
40114 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
40115 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
40116 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
40117 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
40118 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
40119 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
40120 in that context to be accessed.
40122 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
40123 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40129 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
40130 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
40133 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
40136 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
40137 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
40140 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
40141 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
40144 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
40145 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
40146 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
40147 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
40148 must respond with an empty packet.
40150 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
40151 @cindex query attached, remote request
40152 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
40153 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
40154 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
40155 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
40156 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
40157 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
40158 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
40160 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
40161 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
40162 the @code{quit} command.
40167 The remote server attached to an existing process.
40169 The remote server created a new process.
40171 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
40175 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using bts tracing.
40180 Branch tracing has been enabled.
40182 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
40186 Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
40191 Branch tracing has been disabled.
40193 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
40198 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
40199 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
40201 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
40202 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
40203 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
40206 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
40207 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
40210 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
40211 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
40214 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
40217 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
40218 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
40219 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
40221 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
40226 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
40229 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
40232 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
40236 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
40237 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
40240 * MIPS Register packet Format::
40241 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
40244 @node MIPS Register packet Format
40245 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
40246 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
40248 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
40249 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
40250 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
40251 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
40252 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
40253 most-significant -- least-significant.
40258 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
40259 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
40260 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
40263 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
40264 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
40269 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
40270 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
40271 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
40273 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
40278 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
40281 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
40284 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
40287 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
40291 @node Tracepoint Packets
40292 @section Tracepoint Packets
40293 @cindex tracepoint packets
40294 @cindex packets, tracepoint
40296 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
40297 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
40301 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
40302 @cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
40303 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
40304 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
40305 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
40306 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
40307 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
40308 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
40309 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
40310 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
40311 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
40312 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
40313 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
40319 The packet was understood and carried out.
40321 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
40323 The packet was not recognized.
40326 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
40327 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
40328 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
40329 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
40330 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
40331 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
40332 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
40334 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
40335 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
40336 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
40337 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
40338 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
40339 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
40340 tracepoint actions.
40342 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
40343 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
40349 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
40350 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
40351 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
40352 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
40353 not fit in a 32-bit word.
40355 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
40356 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
40357 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
40358 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
40359 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
40360 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
40361 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
40363 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
40364 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
40365 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
40366 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
40367 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
40368 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
40373 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
40374 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
40375 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
40376 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
40377 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
40378 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
40379 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
40380 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
40385 The packet was understood and carried out.
40387 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
40389 The packet was not recognized.
40392 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
40393 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
40394 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
40395 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
40396 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
40397 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
40398 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
40399 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
40401 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
40402 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
40403 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
40404 fit in a single packet.
40405 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
40406 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
40408 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
40409 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
40410 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
40411 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
40413 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
40414 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
40417 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
40418 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
40419 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
40420 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
40421 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
40422 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
40423 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
40426 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
40427 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
40428 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
40429 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
40430 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
40431 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
40432 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
40433 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
40434 mentioned in expressions.
40436 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
40437 @cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
40438 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
40439 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
40440 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
40442 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
40443 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
40444 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
40445 one of the following forms:
40449 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
40450 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
40451 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
40454 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
40455 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
40459 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
40460 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40461 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
40462 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
40464 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
40465 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40466 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
40467 is a hexadecimal number.
40469 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
40470 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40471 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
40472 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
40475 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
40476 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
40477 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
40480 @cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
40481 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
40482 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
40483 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
40484 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
40485 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
40486 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
40493 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
40495 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
40496 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
40497 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
40499 An error has occurred.
40501 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
40505 @cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
40506 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
40507 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
40508 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
40509 instruction reply packet}).
40512 @cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
40513 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
40515 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
40517 @cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
40518 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
40519 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
40520 of data from it will resume.
40522 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
40524 @cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
40525 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
40526 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
40527 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
40530 @cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
40531 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
40533 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
40534 @cindex @samp{QTro} packet
40535 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
40536 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
40537 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
40539 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
40540 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
40541 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
40542 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
40544 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
40545 @cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
40546 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
40547 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
40548 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
40549 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
40552 @cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
40553 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
40555 The reply has the form:
40559 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
40560 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
40561 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
40562 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
40566 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
40567 explanations as one of the optional fields:
40572 No trace has been run yet.
40574 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
40575 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
40576 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
40577 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
40578 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
40581 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
40583 @item tdisconnected:0
40584 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
40586 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
40587 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
40589 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
40590 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
40591 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
40592 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
40593 @var{text} is hex encoded.
40596 The trace stopped for some other reason.
40600 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
40601 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
40602 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
40603 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
40608 @item tframes:@var{n}
40609 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
40611 @item tcreated:@var{n}
40612 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
40613 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
40615 @item tsize:@var{n}
40616 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
40618 @item tfree:@var{n}
40619 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
40621 @item circular:@var{n}
40622 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
40623 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
40624 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
40627 @item disconn:@var{n}
40628 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
40629 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
40630 that the trace run will stop.
40634 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
40635 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
40636 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
40637 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
40638 address @var{addr}.
40642 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
40643 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
40644 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
40645 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
40646 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
40650 @item qTV:@var{var}
40651 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
40652 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
40653 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
40658 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
40659 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
40660 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
40661 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
40662 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
40663 program is running.
40666 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
40667 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
40672 @cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
40674 @cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
40675 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
40676 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
40677 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
40678 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
40679 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
40682 @cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
40684 @cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
40685 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
40686 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
40687 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
40688 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
40689 trace state variables.
40695 @cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
40696 @cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
40697 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
40698 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
40699 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
40700 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
40704 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
40706 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
40707 a comma-separated list of markers
40709 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
40711 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
40713 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
40717 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
40718 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
40720 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
40721 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
40722 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
40723 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
40726 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
40728 @cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
40729 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
40730 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
40731 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
40732 tracepoint markers.
40734 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
40735 @cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
40736 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
40737 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
40738 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
40739 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
40741 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
40742 @cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
40743 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
40744 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
40745 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
40746 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
40747 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
40748 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
40751 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
40752 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
40753 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
40755 @item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
40756 @anchor{QTBuffer-size}
40757 @cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
40758 This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
40759 @var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
40760 use whatever size it prefers.
40762 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
40763 @cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
40764 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
40765 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
40766 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
40770 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
40771 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
40772 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
40773 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
40774 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
40775 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
40776 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
40777 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
40778 it had executed in the original location.
40780 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
40781 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
40782 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
40783 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
40784 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
40785 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
40786 format of the request is:
40789 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
40791 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
40792 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
40793 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
40794 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
40795 memory starting at @var{to}.
40800 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
40801 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
40802 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
40804 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
40805 relocating the instruction.
40808 @node Host I/O Packets
40809 @section Host I/O Packets
40810 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
40811 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
40813 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
40814 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
40815 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
40816 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
40817 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
40818 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
40819 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
40820 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
40821 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
40822 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
40824 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
40825 its arguments. They have this format:
40829 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
40830 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
40831 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
40832 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
40833 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
40834 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
40835 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
40836 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
40837 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
40841 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
40845 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
40846 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
40847 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
40848 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
40849 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
40850 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
40851 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
40852 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
40853 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
40857 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
40861 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
40864 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
40865 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
40866 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
40867 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
40868 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
40869 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
40870 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
40872 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
40873 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
40874 -1 if an error occurs.
40876 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
40877 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
40878 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
40879 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
40880 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
40881 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
40882 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
40883 @var{count} was zero.
40885 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40886 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40887 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40888 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40889 some characters were escaped.
40891 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
40892 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
40893 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
40894 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
40895 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
40896 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
40897 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
40900 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
40901 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
40902 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
40904 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
40905 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
40906 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
40908 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40909 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40910 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40911 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40912 some characters were escaped.
40917 @section Interrupts
40918 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
40920 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
40921 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
40922 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
40923 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
40925 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
40926 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
40927 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
40928 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
40929 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
40931 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
40932 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
40933 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
40934 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
40935 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
40936 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
40937 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
40938 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
40940 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
40941 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
40942 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
40944 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
40945 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
40946 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
40947 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
40948 currently-executing threads and processes.
40949 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
40950 running program, it should send one of the stop
40951 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
40952 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
40953 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
40954 Interrupts received while the
40955 program is stopped are discarded.
40957 @node Notification Packets
40958 @section Notification Packets
40959 @cindex notification packets
40960 @cindex packets, notification
40962 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
40963 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
40964 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
40965 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
40966 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
40967 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
40970 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
40971 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
40972 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
40973 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
40974 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
40975 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
40976 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
40978 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
40979 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
40981 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
40982 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
40983 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
40984 not they understand it.
40986 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
40987 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
40988 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
40989 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
40992 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
40993 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
40994 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
40995 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
40996 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
40998 Each notification is comprised of three parts:
41000 @item @var{name}:@var{event}
41001 The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
41002 exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
41003 carrying the specific information about the notification.
41004 @var{name} is the name of the notification.
41006 The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
41007 acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
41010 The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
41011 @value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
41013 The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
41014 at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
41015 appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
41016 acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
41017 additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
41018 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
41019 synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
41020 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
41021 the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
41022 @value{GDBN} may not have received it.
41024 Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
41025 otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
41026 expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
41027 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
41028 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
41029 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
41031 After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
41032 sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
41033 stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
41034 @value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
41035 stub first, which the stub should process normally.
41037 Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
41038 events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
41039 normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
41040 packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
41041 other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
41044 If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
41045 @var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
41046 At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
41047 and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
41048 won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
41049 received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
41050 a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
41051 the process shall be repeated.
41053 The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
41056 <- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
41059 <- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
41061 <- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
41066 The following notifications are defined:
41067 @multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
41076 @tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
41077 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
41078 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
41080 @tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
41084 @node Remote Non-Stop
41085 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
41087 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
41088 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
41089 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
41090 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
41092 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
41093 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
41094 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
41095 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
41096 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
41097 probe the target state after a mode change.
41099 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
41100 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
41101 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
41102 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
41103 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
41104 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
41105 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
41106 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
41107 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
41108 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
41109 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
41111 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
41112 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
41113 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
41114 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
41115 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
41116 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
41117 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
41118 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
41119 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
41120 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
41121 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
41124 @node Packet Acknowledgment
41125 @section Packet Acknowledgment
41127 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
41128 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
41129 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
41130 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
41131 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
41132 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
41133 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
41135 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
41136 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
41137 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
41138 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
41139 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
41141 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
41142 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
41143 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
41144 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
41146 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
41147 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
41148 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
41149 @pxref{qSupported}.
41150 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
41151 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
41152 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
41153 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
41154 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
41155 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
41156 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
41158 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
41159 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
41160 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
41162 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
41163 new connection is established,
41164 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
41165 for the current connection, once disabled.
41170 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
41171 does not get any direct output:
41176 @emph{target restarts}
41179 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
41183 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
41186 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
41191 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
41195 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
41199 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
41200 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
41201 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
41204 * File-I/O Overview::
41205 * Protocol Basics::
41206 * The F Request Packet::
41207 * The F Reply Packet::
41208 * The Ctrl-C Message::
41210 * List of Supported Calls::
41211 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
41213 * File-I/O Examples::
41216 @node File-I/O Overview
41217 @subsection File-I/O Overview
41218 @cindex file-i/o overview
41220 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
41221 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
41222 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
41223 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
41224 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
41225 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
41227 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
41228 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
41229 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
41230 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
41231 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
41233 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
41234 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
41235 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
41236 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
41237 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
41238 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
41239 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
41241 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
41242 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
41243 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
41244 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
41245 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
41248 (@value{GDBP}) continue
41249 <- target requests 'system call X'
41250 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
41251 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
41252 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
41253 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
41256 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
41257 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
41258 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
41259 system are not supported by this protocol.
41261 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
41263 @node Protocol Basics
41264 @subsection Protocol Basics
41265 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
41267 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
41268 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
41269 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
41270 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
41271 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
41272 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
41273 to call the appropriate host system call:
41277 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
41280 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
41281 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
41282 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
41283 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
41287 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
41291 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
41292 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
41293 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
41294 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
41298 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
41299 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
41302 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
41305 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
41308 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
41309 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
41310 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
41311 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
41316 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
41317 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
41324 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
41331 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
41332 the latest continue or step action.
41334 @node The F Request Packet
41335 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
41336 @cindex file-i/o request packet
41337 @cindex @code{F} request packet
41339 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
41342 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
41344 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
41345 This is just the name of the function.
41347 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
41348 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
41349 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
41350 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
41351 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
41352 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
41353 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
41359 @node The F Reply Packet
41360 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
41361 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
41362 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
41364 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
41368 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
41370 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
41372 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
41374 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
41376 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
41377 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
41378 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
41385 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
41392 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
41397 @node The Ctrl-C Message
41398 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
41399 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
41401 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
41402 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
41403 the target should behave as if it had
41404 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
41405 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
41406 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
41409 It's important for the target to know in which
41410 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
41414 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
41417 The system call on the host has been finished.
41421 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
41422 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
41423 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
41424 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
41425 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
41426 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
41428 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
41429 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
41430 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
41431 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
41432 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
41433 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
41434 or the full action has been completed.
41437 @subsection Console I/O
41438 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
41440 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
41441 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
41442 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
41443 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
41444 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
41445 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
41450 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
41452 system call is treated as finished.
41455 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
41459 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
41460 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
41464 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
41465 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
41466 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
41467 is stopped at the user's request.
41470 @node List of Supported Calls
41471 @subsection List of Supported Calls
41472 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
41489 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
41490 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
41495 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
41496 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
41500 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
41503 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
41507 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
41508 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
41512 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
41513 an error and open() fails.
41516 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
41517 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
41518 truncated to zero length.
41521 The file is opened in append mode.
41524 The file is opened for reading only.
41527 The file is opened for writing only.
41530 The file is opened for reading and writing.
41534 Other bits are silently ignored.
41538 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
41542 User has read permission.
41545 User has write permission.
41548 Group has read permission.
41551 Group has write permission.
41554 Others have read permission.
41557 Others have write permission.
41561 Other bits are silently ignored.
41564 @item Return value:
41565 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
41572 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
41575 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
41578 The requested access is not allowed.
41581 @var{pathname} was too long.
41584 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41587 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
41590 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
41591 write access was requested.
41594 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
41597 No space on device to create the file.
41600 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
41603 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
41607 The call was interrupted by the user.
41613 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
41614 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
41623 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
41625 @item Return value:
41626 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
41632 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
41635 The call was interrupted by the user.
41641 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
41642 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
41647 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
41651 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
41653 @item Return value:
41654 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
41655 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
41656 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
41662 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
41666 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41669 The call was interrupted by the user.
41675 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
41676 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
41681 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
41685 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
41687 @item Return value:
41688 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
41689 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
41696 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
41700 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41703 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
41704 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
41707 No space on device to write the data.
41710 The call was interrupted by the user.
41716 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
41717 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
41722 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
41726 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
41728 @var{flag} is one of:
41732 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
41735 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
41739 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
41743 @item Return value:
41744 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
41745 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
41746 value of -1 is returned.
41752 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
41755 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
41758 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
41761 The call was interrupted by the user.
41767 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
41768 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
41773 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
41777 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
41779 @item Return value:
41780 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41786 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
41790 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
41793 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
41797 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
41801 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
41802 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
41803 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
41806 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
41809 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41813 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
41816 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
41819 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41822 The device containing the file has no room for the new
41826 The call was interrupted by the user.
41832 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
41833 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
41838 int unlink(const char *pathname);
41842 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
41844 @item Return value:
41845 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41851 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41854 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
41857 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
41858 being used by another process.
41861 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41864 @var{pathname} was too long.
41867 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41870 A component of the path is not a directory.
41873 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41876 The call was interrupted by the user.
41882 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
41883 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
41884 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
41889 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
41890 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
41894 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
41895 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
41897 @item Return value:
41898 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41904 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
41907 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
41908 path is an empty string.
41911 A component of the path is not a directory.
41914 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41917 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41920 @var{pathname} was too long.
41923 The call was interrupted by the user.
41929 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
41930 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
41935 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
41939 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
41941 @item Return value:
41942 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
41948 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
41951 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41957 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
41958 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
41963 int isatty(int fd);
41967 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
41969 @item Return value:
41970 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
41976 The call was interrupted by the user.
41981 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
41982 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
41983 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
41984 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
41989 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
41990 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
41995 int system(const char *command);
41999 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
42001 @item Return value:
42002 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
42003 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
42004 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
42005 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
42006 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
42007 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
42008 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
42014 The call was interrupted by the user.
42019 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
42020 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
42021 the host is simplified before it's returned
42022 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
42023 is discarded, and the return value consists
42024 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
42026 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
42027 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
42028 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
42031 @item set remote system-call-allowed
42032 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
42033 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
42034 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
42036 @item show remote system-call-allowed
42037 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
42038 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
42042 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
42043 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
42044 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
42047 * Integral Datatypes::
42049 * Memory Transfer::
42054 @node Integral Datatypes
42055 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
42056 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
42058 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
42059 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
42060 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
42062 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
42063 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
42065 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
42067 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
42068 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
42070 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
42072 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
42073 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
42076 @node Pointer Values
42077 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
42078 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
42080 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
42081 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
42082 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
42083 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
42090 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
42091 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
42092 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
42093 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
42099 @node Memory Transfer
42100 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
42101 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
42103 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
42104 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
42105 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
42106 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
42107 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
42108 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
42109 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
42113 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
42114 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
42116 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
42117 is defined as follows:
42121 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
42122 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
42123 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
42124 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
42125 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
42126 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
42127 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
42128 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
42129 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
42130 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
42131 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
42132 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
42133 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
42137 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
42138 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
42139 structure is of size 64 bytes.
42141 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
42147 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
42150 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
42153 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
42154 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
42159 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
42164 These values have a host and file system dependent
42165 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
42166 support exact timing values.
42169 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
42170 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
42173 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
42174 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
42175 get truncated on the target.
42177 @node struct timeval
42178 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
42179 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
42181 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
42182 is defined as follows:
42186 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
42187 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
42191 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
42192 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
42193 structure is of size 8 bytes.
42196 @subsection Constants
42197 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
42199 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
42200 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
42201 values before and after the call as needed.
42212 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
42213 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
42215 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
42227 @node mode_t Values
42228 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
42229 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
42231 All values are given in octal representation.
42248 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
42249 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
42251 All values are given in decimal representation.
42276 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
42277 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
42280 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
42281 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
42290 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
42291 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
42293 All values are given in decimal representation.
42296 INT_MIN -2147483648
42298 UINT_MAX 4294967295
42299 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
42300 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
42301 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
42304 @node File-I/O Examples
42305 @subsection File-I/O Examples
42306 @cindex file-i/o examples
42308 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
42309 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
42312 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
42313 @emph{request memory read from target}
42316 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
42320 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
42321 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
42324 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42325 @emph{request memory write to target}
42326 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
42327 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
42331 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
42332 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
42335 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42339 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
42343 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42348 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
42352 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
42353 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
42357 @node Library List Format
42358 @section Library List Format
42359 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
42361 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
42362 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
42363 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
42364 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
42365 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
42366 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
42367 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
42368 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
42369 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
42372 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
42373 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
42374 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
42375 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
42377 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
42378 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
42379 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
42380 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
42381 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
42382 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
42384 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42385 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
42387 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
42388 offset, looks like this:
42392 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
42393 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
42398 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
42399 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
42403 <library name="sharedlib.o">
42404 <section address="0x10000000"/>
42405 <section address="0x20000000"/>
42406 <section address="0x30000000"/>
42411 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
42414 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
42415 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
42416 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42417 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
42418 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42419 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
42420 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
42421 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
42422 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
42425 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
42426 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
42427 section for each library.
42429 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
42430 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
42431 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
42433 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
42434 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
42435 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
42436 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
42438 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
42439 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
42440 target, the following parameters are reported:
42444 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
42445 @code{struct link_map}.
42447 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
42448 (Thread Local Storage) access.
42450 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
42451 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
42452 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
42453 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
42455 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
42458 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
42459 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
42460 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
42462 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42463 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
42465 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
42469 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
42470 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
42472 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
42474 </library-list-svr>
42477 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
42480 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
42481 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
42482 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42483 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
42484 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
42485 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42486 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
42487 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
42488 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
42491 @node Memory Map Format
42492 @section Memory Map Format
42493 @cindex memory map format
42495 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
42496 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
42499 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
42500 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
42501 lists memory regions.
42503 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42504 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
42506 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42509 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42510 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
42511 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
42512 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
42518 Each region can be either:
42523 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
42527 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42532 A region of read-only memory:
42535 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42540 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
42544 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
42545 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
42551 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
42552 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
42553 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
42555 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
42558 <!-- ................................................... -->
42559 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
42560 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
42561 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
42562 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
42563 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
42564 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
42565 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
42566 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
42567 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
42568 and its type, or device. -->
42569 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
42570 start CDATA #REQUIRED
42571 length CDATA #REQUIRED
42572 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
42573 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
42574 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
42575 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42578 @node Thread List Format
42579 @section Thread List Format
42580 @cindex thread list format
42582 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
42583 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
42584 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
42585 the following structure:
42588 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42590 <thread id="id" core="0">
42591 ... description ...
42596 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
42597 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
42598 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
42599 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
42600 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
42602 @node Traceframe Info Format
42603 @section Traceframe Info Format
42604 @cindex traceframe info format
42606 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
42607 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
42608 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
42609 collected in a traceframe.
42611 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
42612 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
42614 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42615 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
42617 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42620 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42621 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
42622 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
42623 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
42629 Each traceframe block can be either:
42634 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
42635 @var{length} bytes from there:
42638 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42642 A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
42646 <tvar id="@var{number}"/>
42651 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
42654 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
42655 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42657 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
42658 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
42659 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
42661 <!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
42664 @node Branch Trace Format
42665 @section Branch Trace Format
42666 @cindex branch trace format
42668 In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
42669 @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
42670 represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
42671 branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
42673 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
42674 (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
42676 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42677 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
42679 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42682 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42684 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
42685 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
42694 A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
42695 and ending at @var{end}:
42698 <block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
42703 The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
42706 <!ELEMENT btrace (block)* >
42707 <!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42709 <!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
42710 <!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
42711 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
42714 @include agentexpr.texi
42716 @node Target Descriptions
42717 @appendix Target Descriptions
42718 @cindex target descriptions
42720 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
42721 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
42722 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
42723 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
42724 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
42725 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
42726 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
42730 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
42731 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
42733 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
42734 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
42735 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
42737 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
42738 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
42739 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
42742 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
42743 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
42744 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
42745 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
42746 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
42748 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42749 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
42752 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
42753 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
42754 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
42756 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
42759 @node Retrieving Descriptions
42760 @section Retrieving Descriptions
42762 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
42763 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
42764 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
42765 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
42766 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
42767 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
42768 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
42771 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
42772 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
42773 specify a file are:
42776 @cindex set tdesc filename
42777 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
42778 Read the target description from @var{path}.
42780 @cindex unset tdesc filename
42781 @item unset tdesc filename
42782 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
42783 will use the description supplied by the current target.
42785 @cindex show tdesc filename
42786 @item show tdesc filename
42787 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
42791 @node Target Description Format
42792 @section Target Description Format
42793 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
42795 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
42796 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
42797 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
42798 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
42799 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
42800 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
42801 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
42803 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
42804 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
42805 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
42806 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
42807 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
42809 Here is a simple target description:
42812 <target version="1.0">
42813 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
42818 This minimal description only says that the target uses
42819 the x86-64 architecture.
42821 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
42822 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
42823 are explained further below.
42826 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42827 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
42828 <target version="1.0">
42829 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
42830 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
42831 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
42832 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
42837 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
42838 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
42839 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
42840 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
42841 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
42842 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
42843 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
42844 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
42845 the version mismatch.
42847 @subsection Inclusion
42848 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
42851 @cindex <xi:include>
42854 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
42855 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
42856 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
42857 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
42858 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
42861 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
42865 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
42866 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
42867 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
42868 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
42869 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
42870 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
42871 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
42872 original description.
42874 @subsection Architecture
42875 @cindex <architecture>
42877 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
42880 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
42883 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42884 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42887 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
42889 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42890 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42892 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
42895 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
42898 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
42899 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
42901 @subsection Compatible Architecture
42902 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
42904 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42905 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42907 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
42910 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
42913 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42914 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42916 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
42917 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
42918 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
42919 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
42920 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
42921 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
42922 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
42925 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
42926 <compatible>spu</compatible>
42929 @subsection Features
42932 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
42933 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
42934 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
42938 <feature name="@var{name}">
42939 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
42945 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
42946 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
42947 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
42948 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
42952 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
42953 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
42954 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
42955 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
42956 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
42958 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
42959 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
42960 Types must be defined before they are used.
42963 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
42964 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
42965 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
42969 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
42973 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
42974 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
42975 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
42976 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
42979 <union id="@var{id}">
42980 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42986 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
42987 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
42988 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
42989 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
42990 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
42991 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
42992 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
42993 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
42996 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42997 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
43002 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
43003 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
43006 <struct id="@var{id}">
43007 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
43013 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
43014 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
43015 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
43016 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
43020 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
43021 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
43026 @subsection Registers
43029 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
43032 <reg name="@var{name}"
43033 bitsize="@var{size}"
43034 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
43035 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
43036 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
43037 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
43041 The components are as follows:
43046 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
43049 The register's size, in bits.
43052 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
43053 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
43054 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
43055 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
43056 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
43057 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
43058 in order of increasing register number.
43061 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
43062 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
43063 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
43064 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
43068 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
43069 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
43070 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
43071 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
43072 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
43073 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
43076 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
43077 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
43078 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
43079 in @code{info registers}.
43083 @node Predefined Target Types
43084 @section Predefined Target Types
43085 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
43087 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
43088 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
43089 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
43090 types. The currently supported types are:
43099 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
43106 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
43110 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
43111 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
43112 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
43113 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
43114 may be marked as data pointers.
43117 Single precision IEEE floating point.
43120 Double precision IEEE floating point.
43123 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
43126 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
43129 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
43132 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
43136 @node Standard Target Features
43137 @section Standard Target Features
43138 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
43140 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
43141 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
43142 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
43143 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
43144 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
43145 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
43146 can recognize them.
43148 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
43149 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
43150 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
43151 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
43152 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
43153 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
43154 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
43155 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
43157 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
43158 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
43159 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
43161 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
43162 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
43163 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
43164 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
43166 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
43167 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
43168 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
43171 * AArch64 Features::
43176 * Nios II Features::
43177 * PowerPC Features::
43178 * S/390 and System z Features::
43183 @node AArch64 Features
43184 @subsection AArch64 Features
43185 @cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
43187 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
43188 targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
43189 @samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
43191 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
43192 it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
43196 @subsection ARM Features
43197 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
43199 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
43201 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
43202 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
43204 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
43205 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
43206 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
43209 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
43210 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
43212 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
43213 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
43214 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
43215 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
43217 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
43218 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
43219 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
43220 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
43221 halves of the double-precision registers.
43223 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
43224 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
43225 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
43226 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
43227 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
43228 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
43230 @node i386 Features
43231 @subsection i386 Features
43232 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
43234 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
43235 targets. It should describe the following registers:
43239 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
43241 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
43243 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
43244 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
43246 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
43248 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
43249 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
43252 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
43254 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
43255 describe registers:
43259 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
43261 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
43266 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
43267 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
43268 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
43272 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
43274 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
43277 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.mpx} is an optional feature representing Intel(R)
43278 Memory Protection Extension (MPX). It should describe the following registers:
43282 @samp{bnd0raw} through @samp{bnd3raw} for i386 and amd64.
43284 @samp{bndcfgu} and @samp{bndstatus} for i386 and amd64.
43287 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
43288 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
43290 @node MIPS Features
43291 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
43292 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
43294 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
43295 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
43296 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
43299 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
43300 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
43301 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43303 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
43304 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
43305 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
43306 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43308 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
43309 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
43310 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
43311 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43313 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
43314 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
43315 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
43317 @node M68K Features
43318 @subsection M68K Features
43319 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
43322 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
43323 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
43324 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
43325 One of those features must be always present.
43326 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
43327 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
43328 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
43329 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
43331 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
43332 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
43333 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
43337 @node Nios II Features
43338 @subsection Nios II Features
43339 @cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
43341 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
43342 targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
43343 @samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
43344 @samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
43347 @node PowerPC Features
43348 @subsection PowerPC Features
43349 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
43351 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
43352 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
43353 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
43354 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
43356 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
43357 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
43359 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
43360 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
43363 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
43364 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
43365 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
43366 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
43367 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
43368 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
43370 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
43371 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
43372 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
43373 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
43374 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
43375 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
43378 @node S/390 and System z Features
43379 @subsection S/390 and System z Features
43380 @cindex target descriptions, S/390 features
43381 @cindex target descriptions, System z features
43383 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.core} feature is required for S/390 and
43384 System z targets. It should contain the PSW and the 16 general
43385 registers. In particular, System z targets should provide the 64-bit
43386 registers @samp{pswm}, @samp{pswa}, and @samp{r0} through @samp{r15}.
43387 S/390 targets should provide the 32-bit versions of these registers.
43388 A System z target that runs in 31-bit addressing mode should provide
43389 32-bit versions of @samp{pswm} and @samp{pswa}, as well as the general
43390 register's upper halves @samp{r0h} through @samp{r15h}, and their
43391 lower halves @samp{r0l} through @samp{r15l}.
43393 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.fpr} feature is required. It should
43394 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f15}, and
43397 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.acr} feature is required. It should
43398 contain the 32-bit registers @samp{acr0} through @samp{acr15}.
43400 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.linux} feature is optional. It should
43401 contain the register @samp{orig_r2}, which is 64-bit wide on System z
43402 targets and 32-bit otherwise. In addition, the feature may contain
43403 the @samp{last_break} register, whose width depends on the addressing
43404 mode, as well as the @samp{system_call} register, which is always
43407 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.tdb} feature is optional. It should
43408 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{tdb0}, @samp{tac}, @samp{tct},
43409 @samp{atia}, and @samp{tr0} through @samp{tr15}.
43411 @node TIC6x Features
43412 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
43413 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
43414 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
43415 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
43416 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
43417 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
43419 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
43420 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
43421 through @samp{B31}.
43423 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
43424 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
43426 @node Operating System Information
43427 @appendix Operating System Information
43428 @cindex operating system information
43434 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
43435 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
43436 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
43437 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
43438 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
43439 on a different aspect of target.
43441 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
43442 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
43443 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
43444 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
43447 @appendixsection Process list
43448 @cindex operating system information, process list
43450 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
43451 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
43452 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
43453 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
43455 An example document is:
43458 <?xml version="1.0"?>
43459 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
43460 <osdata type="processes">
43462 <column name="pid">1</column>
43463 <column name="user">root</column>
43464 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
43465 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
43470 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
43471 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
43472 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
43473 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
43474 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
43475 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
43476 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
43478 @node Trace File Format
43479 @appendix Trace File Format
43480 @cindex trace file format
43482 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
43483 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
43485 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
43486 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
43487 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
43490 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
43491 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
43492 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
43493 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
43494 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
43497 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
43499 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
43500 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
43501 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
43502 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
43503 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
43504 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
43505 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
43508 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
43511 @item R @var{bytes}
43512 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
43513 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
43514 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
43515 hexadecimal encoding.
43517 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
43518 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
43519 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
43520 @var{length} bytes.
43522 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
43523 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
43524 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
43528 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
43531 @node Index Section Format
43532 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
43533 @cindex .gdb_index section format
43534 @cindex index section format
43536 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
43537 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
43538 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
43541 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
43542 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
43543 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
43544 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
43545 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
43546 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
43548 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
43552 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
43553 unless otherwise noted:
43557 The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
43558 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
43559 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
43560 and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
43561 symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
43562 (@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
43563 compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
43565 @value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
43566 by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
43567 GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
43568 currently not flagged as deprecated.
43571 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
43574 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
43575 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
43576 to the next offset.
43579 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
43582 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
43585 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
43589 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
43590 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
43591 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
43592 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
43593 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
43594 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
43595 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
43599 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
43600 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
43601 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
43602 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
43605 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
43606 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
43610 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
43613 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
43614 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
43617 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
43621 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
43622 the hash table is always a power of 2.
43624 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
43625 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
43626 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
43629 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
43630 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
43631 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
43633 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
43634 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
43635 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
43636 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
43641 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
43643 @item Versions 5 to 7
43644 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
43647 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
43649 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
43650 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
43651 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
43652 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
43655 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
43656 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
43657 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
43661 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
43662 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
43665 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
43666 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
43667 Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
43668 the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
43669 CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
43670 See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
43672 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
43675 Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
43676 If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
43677 CU index+attributes value for each use.
43679 The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
43685 This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
43687 These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
43689 The kind of the symbol in the CU.
43693 This value is reserved and should not be used.
43694 By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
43695 with previous versions of the index.
43697 The symbol is a type.
43699 The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
43701 The symbol is a function.
43703 Any other kind of symbol.
43705 These values are reserved.
43709 This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
43711 The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
43712 The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
43713 @value{GDBN} sources.
43717 This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
43718 global/static attributes in the index.
43721 is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
43722 language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
43725 case DW_TAG_typedef:
43726 case DW_TAG_base_type:
43727 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
43731 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
43733 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43735 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
43737 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
43739 case DW_TAG_constant:
43741 is_static = ! is_external;
43743 case DW_TAG_variable:
43745 is_static = ! is_external;
43747 case DW_TAG_namespace:
43751 case DW_TAG_class_type:
43752 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
43753 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
43754 case DW_TAG_union_type:
43755 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
43757 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43765 @appendix Manual pages
43769 * gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
43770 * gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
43771 * gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
43772 * gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
43778 @c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
43780 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
43781 gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
43782 [@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
43783 [@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
43784 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
43785 [@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
43786 [@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
43787 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
43788 [@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
43791 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
43792 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
43793 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
43794 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
43796 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
43797 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
43801 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
43804 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
43807 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
43810 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
43811 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
43814 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
43817 @value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
43818 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
43819 command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
43820 by using the command @code{help}.
43822 You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
43823 usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
43824 executable program as the argument:
43830 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
43836 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
43837 to debug a running process:
43845 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
43846 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
43847 With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
43849 Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
43851 @c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
43853 @item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
43854 Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
43856 @item run [@var{arglist}]
43857 Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
43860 Backtrace: display the program stack.
43862 @item print @var{expr}
43863 Display the value of an expression.
43866 Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
43869 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
43870 function calls in the line.
43872 @item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43873 look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
43875 @item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43876 type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
43879 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
43880 function calls in the line.
43882 @item help [@var{name}]
43883 Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
43884 about using @value{GDBN}.
43887 Exit from @value{GDBN}.
43891 For full details on @value{GDBN},
43892 see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43893 by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
43894 as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
43898 @c man begin OPTIONS gdb
43899 Any arguments other than options specify an executable
43900 file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
43901 encountered with no
43902 associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
43903 if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
43905 both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
43906 recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
43907 present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
43908 arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
43909 more usual convention.)
43911 All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
43912 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
43918 List all options, with brief explanations.
43920 @item -symbols=@var{file}
43921 @itemx -s @var{file}
43922 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
43925 Enable writing into executable and core files.
43927 @item -exec=@var{file}
43928 @itemx -e @var{file}
43929 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
43930 appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
43933 @item -se=@var{file}
43934 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
43937 @item -core=@var{file}
43938 @itemx -c @var{file}
43939 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
43941 @item -command=@var{file}
43942 @itemx -x @var{file}
43943 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
43945 @item -ex @var{command}
43946 Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
43948 @item -directory=@var{directory}
43949 @itemx -d @var{directory}
43950 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
43953 Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
43957 Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
43961 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
43962 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
43965 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
43966 files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
43967 Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
43968 commands in the command files.
43970 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
43971 download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
43972 more useful, the message
43975 Program exited normally.
43979 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
43980 terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
43982 @item -cd=@var{directory}
43983 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
43984 instead of the current directory.
43988 Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
43989 @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
43990 recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
43991 includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
43992 like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
43993 and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
43994 Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
43995 characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
43998 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
43999 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
44001 @item -tty=@var{device}
44002 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
44006 @c man begin SEEALSO gdb
44008 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44009 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44010 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44017 should give you access to the complete manual.
44019 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44020 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44024 @node gdbserver man
44025 @heading gdbserver man
44027 @c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
44029 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
44030 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
44032 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
44034 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
44038 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
44039 @command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
44040 than the one which is running the program being debugged.
44043 @subheading Usage (server (target) side)
44046 Usage (server (target) side):
44049 First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
44050 the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
44051 @command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
44052 the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
44054 To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
44055 program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
44056 your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
44059 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
44062 For example, using a serial port, you might say:
44066 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
44067 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
44070 target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
44074 This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
44075 to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
44076 waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
44078 To use a TCP connection, you could say:
44081 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
44084 This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
44085 going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
44086 that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
44087 2345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
44088 want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
44089 ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
44090 @value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
44091 you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
44092 print an error message and exit.
44094 @command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
44095 This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
44098 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
44101 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
44102 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
44104 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
44105 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
44106 In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
44107 the program you want to debug.
44110 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
44114 @subheading Usage (host side)
44120 You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
44121 @value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
44122 would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
44123 @option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
44124 That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
44125 new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
44126 (or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
44127 a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
44128 descriptor. For example:
44132 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
44133 (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
44136 (gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
44141 communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
44144 (gdb) target remote the-target:2345
44148 communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
44149 you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
44150 TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
44151 command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
44152 `Connection refused'.
44154 @command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
44157 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
44158 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
44161 @ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
44163 In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
44166 (gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
44169 The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
44173 @c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
44174 There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
44179 Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
44182 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
44185 The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
44186 with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
44187 a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
44188 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
44189 debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
44190 program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
44191 connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
44194 Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
44198 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
44201 The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
44202 of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
44203 else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
44204 @value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
44207 Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
44210 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
44213 In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
44214 command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
44215 close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
44216 debug several processes in the same session.
44219 In each of the modes you may specify these options:
44224 List all options, with brief explanations.
44227 This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
44230 @command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
44233 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
44236 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
44237 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
44240 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
44241 or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
44242 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
44243 the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
44246 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
44250 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
44252 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
44255 @item --remote-debug
44256 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
44257 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
44261 Specify a wrapper to launch programs
44262 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
44263 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
44264 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
44267 By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
44268 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
44269 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
44270 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
44272 @c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
44274 @c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
44275 @c QDisableRandomization.
44280 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
44282 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44283 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44284 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44290 should give you access to the complete manual.
44292 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44293 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44300 @c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
44303 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
44304 gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
44308 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
44309 Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
44310 Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
44311 crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
44312 limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
44313 running without any change.
44316 @c man begin OPTIONS gcore
44318 @item -o @var{filename}
44319 The optional argument
44320 @var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
44321 If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
44322 where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
44326 @c man begin SEEALSO gcore
44328 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44329 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44330 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44337 should give you access to the complete manual.
44339 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44340 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44347 @c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
44350 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
44351 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
44352 @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
44361 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
44362 These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
44363 @value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
44366 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
44367 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
44373 Please read more in
44375 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
44376 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
44383 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
44384 @item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
44386 @ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
44387 @item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
44389 System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
44390 @value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
44393 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
44394 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
44397 @ref{System-wide configuration}.
44401 User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
44402 @value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
44405 Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
44406 @value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
44409 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
44410 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
44413 @ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
44418 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
44420 gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
44422 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44423 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44424 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44430 should give you access to the complete manual.
44432 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44433 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44439 @node GNU Free Documentation License
44440 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
44443 @node Concept Index
44444 @unnumbered Concept Index
44448 @node Command and Variable Index
44449 @unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
44454 % I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
44456 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
44457 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
44458 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
44459 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
44460 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
44461 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
44462 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
44463 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
44464 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
44466 % Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.